APPRECIATION FOR THE RHYTHM OF LIFE

 

A series of essays….

~RHYTHMIC PULSES FROM INSIDE A WORK OF ART~
THE BANJO PLAYER ~ WILLIAM SYDNEY MOUNT
DATED 1850-55

….as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

Listen. Close your eyes and really listen to the world around you. 

Are you sitting in a public park, walking around in your local mall, having a meal at your favorite restaurant, or reading the morning paper within the familiar confines of your own living room? Where you are truly doesn’t matter! The important thing is that you are listening to the beat of life that surrounds you, in real time.

I have always found joy by listening to what is going on around me. And, when I am in my personal environment, I can be so attuned to my surroundings that an unfamiliar sound will catch my attention almost immediately. It's like an experienced mechanic who takes a customer's car for a drive to listen for inappropriate clanks, rumbles, and squeals over and above any particular complaints the customer might have..

This morning I awoke to the slightly off-balanced clickety-clack of the ceiling fan above me; its rhythm and timing was exceptionally precise. My fingers tapped out its cadence on the folds of the crisp, white bedsheet. 

Listen. Close your eyes and listen to the rhythm that surrounds you. What are you hearing right at this very moment? 

The sounds around us create the patterns of regular or irregular pulses; familiar and unfamiliar within our daily routine. The battery powered clock clicks its rhythmic pulses as I sit here and type each day. If it were to be taken away right now, would I be able to type at all? A familiar routine can empower us; can persuade us to believe in its creative normalcy, and we are programmed, after a period of time, to expect to function because of its existence. Most likely, we may not even be aware of what’s happening to us.

Ask a person how their day went after having to skip their daily routine at the local coffee shop. You may wonder if their day was compromised because of the timely loss of caffeine or the break in their morning routine. Given time, all of us become, in one form or another, creatures of habit and our 'life rhythm' holds strategic importance to our daily well-being.

When I was young, I became hooked on the National Geographic Specials on television. They took me to places I could only dream about and introduced me to multiple generations, amazing people and lands, different customs, and international flavors — all without having to purchase a ticket to go there. I was hooked! My dear Mother knew it and, somehow, understood that subscribing to the magazine was the right thing to do. I remember that the wonder of the amazing photographs I discovered on the thick, glossy pages nestled between those iconic yellow covers taught me to love photography and all the magical powers of even the simplest of cameras.

It was the rhythmic clicking sounds of the South African bushman tribes that lingered in my mind and made me want to so desperately visit the Continent of Africa — as I still do to this day! Like the guttural sounds of many French words that are produced in the throat and can sound harsh, the Khoisan African languages, I understood, shared click consonants and the people spoke with such a unique sound that it captured my youthful attention and curiosity.

Having read later as an adult about the stylohyoid muscle and digastrique muscle contracting, causing the hyoid bone and the connected glottis to raise, and the forward articulation is held, raising air pressure greatly in the mouth so when the oral articulations separate, there is a dramatic burst of air and even the Adam's apple may be seen moving simultaneously. I couldn’t have been more fascinated.

All this didn't matter to me back then. I just wanted to listen to the clicks and clacks and watch the rhythmic flow of their colorful robes as they danced to the beat made by their staffs being pounded into the dusty, African soil. The clashing sounds of their beaded necklaces and bracelets added to the glorious symphony of delights that thoroughly engulfed my senses. Such a beautiful experience this was and one I will never forget. Perhaps, one day, I will see them in person.

Dan and I are cultivating new rhythms associated with our lives back here in Michigan, over four years after retirement. For now, it’s listening to the crisp, swirling leaves that dance dervish-like in our back yard on a windy autumn's day. It’s the soothing crackle of a roaring fire contained within our stone fireplace on a frosty winter's evening. It can be the tingle of warmth we feel inside our hearts when seeing good friends walking through a spring drizzle coming to say hello and welcome us back home.

I invite you to listen; check all of the senses while you observe the world around you. Delight in the beauty of the rolling hills of an Irish countryside bathed in its many shades of green. Speak to the locals of a small French village in their own language, whenever you can. Walk around the narrow streets of Paris in the evening and listen to the families having dinner; recognize, from an open window, their polite talk and the gentle clash of silver cutlery being maneuvered on hand painted plates. Stroll through an open market and take in all of the aromas the local cuisine has to offer. And, feel the warmth of your lover's skin while you walk hand-in-hand along a cozy Mediterranean beach in the moonlight.

Listen to nature's music playing all around you the next time you take a solitary walk through the forest. Clap your hands and tap your feet as its rhythm sinks into your very being.

You get to decide which beats you wish to follow in your lifetime. But, with a stage as grand and glorious as the world we live in, it may be difficult to narrow the field. Wherever you go and whatever you do, always remember to take a moment to sit back, listen, and appreciate the rhythm of life going on around you.

Copyright © 2023 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

A DECADE OF REALITIES

 

A series of essays….

A GOOD REASON TO CELEBRATE 

       Courtesy of Red Earth

….as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

Comprised of ten years, or one-hundred and twenty months, which equals five-hundred and twenty-one point seventy-eight weeks — I’ll stop right there! Leap years happen every four years and are important so that our calendar year matches the solar year — the amount of time it takes for Earth to make a trip around the Sun. Leave it to our Earth — always in a hurry!

A decade can be a lengthy, short, or moderate amount of time depending upon our personal perspective. As a baby-boomer, adding ten healthy years to my life expectancy can be a toss-up between good and bad: yeah, I’m happy to have lived another ten years or, no, unfortunately, I am ten years closer to…well, you know, the end of my personal rodeo. Whereas, an eight-year old might be thinking more about independence or going off to college in ten years time. 

A ten year time span can be gauged positive or negative depending upon various factors such as health, economic means, quality of life, support from family and friends, or our own futuristic prospects, goals, and dreams. I read somewhere that if and when we stop dreaming, this is when a productive life begins to wane, decrease in its momentousness. Holding on to our hopes and aspirations will always give us something to look forward to, as well as a raison d’être, a reason for being, no matter what our age might be!

Even through the most difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic, my dream of travel was never completely undermined; just delayed. I believe my writing and Blog essays kept me going most of the time and still do, today. 

It all began a decade ago, due to our Irish friend and traditional Irish music artist whom we reunited with back in 2013, Adrian O’Connor. Adrian lives in the colorful village of Doolin, located in County Clare, with his amazing wife, Bev. Doolin is considered a trad music hotspot, as well as a gateway to the ancient sites on the Aran Islands, which are just offshore. The towering Cliffs of Moher lie southwest of town. Farther north and east, the Burren is a stark area of limestone beds and extreme beauty, not to be missed.

CRAGGY ISLAND BED & BREAKFAST

Dan and I met Bev and Adrian on a previous trip to the Wild Atlantic Way along the west coast of Ireland when they hosted our stay at Craggy Island B&B in Doolin. Adrian sat with us back then in his parlor and gave a history lesson in Irish traditional music (folk music) and how he has played a part in it over the years. That visit solidified our love for the west coast of Ireland. Adrian and Bev made us want to return. And, we did! We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary there in September of 2013. 

Unfortunately, due to health reasons, they had to give up running their two-story, white stucco home as a Bed & Breakfast so that Adrian could recoup his health and become stronger. Unfortunately, Bev was out that afternoon we stopped by Craggy Island. Even though it had been seven years between visits, when Adrian came to the front door I saw the ‘twinkle of recognition’ in his dark blue eyes. We sat outside in the gracious Irish sunshine and talked about everything. Eventually, I asked him about a promise he once made to me seven years before.

ADRIAN O’CONNOR PLAYING
THE SMALL SET OF PIPES

He silently sauntered back into the house as if remembering the kettle was on, and I knew what he was after as tears already began to flow from my eyes. Adrian returned within moments carrying a small set of pipes that appeared as old and craggy as our dear friend, himself. He promised to play the pipes for us seven years ago, but we’d all been too busy for this private concert to take place. Now, through his illness and recovery, as sure as the salty Atlantic winds continue to lash relentlessly across this amazing coastline, Adrian’s music washed over us like a Mother’s sweet breath as we stood swaying back and forth…promise fulfilled.

I could barely make out his face through my tears. As sure as the Irish sun was shining down upon us, I knew we were in the midst of a power so mysterious and strong, it was bigger than all of us, yet was all of us combined. Love isn't complicated. You just have to be aware of it with every breath you take. My 'tears of happiness' equaled nothing short of pure peace and much needed solace. I can’t thank you enough, my friend.......!

Many things crossed my mind as we were pulling out of Adrian's gravel driveway and waving good-bye to our friend and soulmate. He was a survivor and possessed talent beyond compare. He made you believe in yourself. And, his unselfishness spread warmth and kindness to the four corners of County Clare and beyond. 

Adrian made me do it! His will to carry-on within the uncertain world we live in coupled with his desire to continue to cherish everything he loved, told me I needed to share this story with others. On Friday, October 18, 2013, I published my first Blog post that was simply entitled, Adrian. MOVING ON…..2013 was officially born! 

I will always see Ireland as a rich, artistic performance, alive with nuance, as in forty shades of green! With nearly five-hundred stories/essays behind me, basically, one essay per week of Blogging, I know many of them reference my beloved Ireland and how this magical place piqued my interest as I gathered friends there and so many memories; so many stories to write about.

Accordingly, Dan and I will continue traveling this September (our favorite time of the year) collecting more stories to be shared with all of you. We plan to celebrate our 50th anniversary in Wales with side trips in Devon and the Cotswolds. There will be so many rich stories to relay to you upon returning home, once again. I can hardly wait…!

Copyright © 2023 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

COMPILING JOY INTO MY LIFE

A series of essays….

SLEEPING BEAUTY WITH A TWIST

….as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

Even before moving up to Kalamazoo nearly five years ago, I had been blessed with a strong friendship with a lady by the  name of Marsha. She is a beautiful soul, a retired librarian, wife of a very talented high school friend of ours, and a grand part of the literary scene within the greater Kalamazoo area. My indoctrination into many groups, clubs, new friendships, and the amazing talent of artists of all forms and degrees is, mainly, due to Marsha. She has opened doors for me with introductions to local people who make-up this incredibly gifted atmosphere we live in here in Kalamazoo. I keep hoping to breathe it all in while promoting my own writing in the meantime.

Every other Monday afternoon, Marsha and I meet within our group of eight ladies which is entitled Voices on the Margin. Here we choose and discuss the works of a different published poet whether they be local or from all over the country. We slice and dice the work of each poet, digest their raison d’être, and attempt to incorporate their style, format, truths, and ideas, albeit casually, into our own work. Two weeks later, we will have written a poem loosely based on the general understanding of that poet’s work then read our poetry aloud in class to be analyzed, gently improved upon, all while offering each of us more confidence in ourselves and what we desire to achieve via our own poetic style. Simple joy!

                                               ~~ *** ~~

My sprouting plants have recently shrugged off another bout of springtime snowfall and remain robust, healthy, and strong. Soon, the invisible veil of sweetness, sugar of the gods, will waft throughout the garden sending a modicum of peace to be savored by humble humans. Varying shades of pink, purple, red, yellow, and sultry greens will intermingle with snow white blooms creating free-form artwork that promise to hang within our memories when the winter months return. That is the future. This is the present. For now, I want to gulp in the fragrances and delight in the soothing colors until pure joy lives in my heart—lasting a lifetime!

                                                 

                                             ~~ *** ~~

Several weeks ago we decided to give our Goldendoodle, Bree, a little more freedom around the house. Even though she loves sleeping in her crate at night, she loves being closer to us, as well. Plopping her super cushy bed under the bench at the foot of our bed, she comes into our room as we’re getting ready to snuggle in for the night. Crawling into her own bed, she enjoys listening to the soft piano music we play for an hour that helps to settle us into sleep mode. I love listening to her soft breathing whenever I roll over in the middle of the night and find that just by her being there, I feel comforted and more relaxed. A definite win-win situation! 

This morning, right around seven, I was thrilled by the duet that was flowing around me. Dan’s early morning softer snoring (a vast improvement from his stressful, sleepless nights of years past) had a gentle rhythm to it that left small intervals between each volleyed chorus. Within each gap there seemed to be a distant echo filling in the spaces; a repeated pattern of sound on a much smaller scale. When I realized that Bree was in concert with Dan’s rhythmic vibrations, the combined harmony was entirely too precious. How could it not make me feel blessed and place a smile on my face? Such joy…!

                                              ~~ *** ~~

Joy is putting the phone down after speaking with a close, long distance friend. Janice is someone who soothes a weary soul just by listening to her voice. When I need—no, require—a bit of calming down or an engagement in belly-rolling laughter, I know that the few spare moments Janice may have in her busy life will gladly be saved just for me. I know she feels the same about me. Even if several months fill in the gap between phone calls, our conversation resumes as if time itself holds no weight within a perfect world and a compatible friendship of over twenty years. She is the Yin to my Yang. Doesn’t everyone need a Janice in their life?

                                              ~~ *** ~~

Our fifteen-year-old granddaughter, Brenna, will soon be celebrating her sixteenth birthday in May. Yes, a right of passage will consist of passing her driving test and receiving her driver’s license. This amazing young lady is, possibly, one of the most disciplined people I know with the uncanny ability to excel in everything she is involved in. Beginning at a very early age, she has worked her way up through the grueling ranks of the gymnastic world with constant practices, learning how to place one’s body in so many unfathomable positions, and attending scheduled meets that take her all over the country!

Two weeks ago, at her final regular meet of the season, her vault, beam, uneven bars, and floor exercise were judged good enough to have her take a position at States held in Mt. Pleasant. If Brenna excelled there, she would proceed to Regionals in three week’s time to be held in Akron. Well, Ohio, here she comes! Needless to say, we are all so proud of her. The joy she brings to all who know her is complete and sincere in every way. And, if you happen to live in the Kalamazoo area, please don’t worry about this soon-to-be sixteen-year-old driving around town—she is perfectly capable of meeting all the requirements of a good driver!

                                             ~~ *** ~~

I know that in the grand scheme of things, fifty years is merely a gentle drop in the old proverbial bucket as far as history is concerned. But, when time is measured by individual memories, this length of time becomes more personal and poignant when dealing with life stories and events. This year, in September, my memoirs will include a very fulfilling fifty years of wedded bliss. Oh, come now—we all know that marriages, as blissful as they might be at times, go through ups and downs, laughter and tears, especially after such a mighty period of time. Blissful and joyful satisfaction can be the fabric that is woven between the rough patches that all marriages experience. Finding a good balance between them may be the main reason for long term happiness in any marriage. Inherent joy is the reward.

                                             ~~ *** ~~

This September will mark another significant milestone for me. I will celebrate writing about my travels, the people I have met along each journey, memories of my childhood and the family I grew up with, my impressions of a radical political scene, and about love, possibly the greatest of all human feelings and emotions. My contributions to Moving On….2013 and beyond have, for the most part, dealt with the power of love and I’ve expressed this through my prose, poetry, and short stories for the past ten years.

It is my delight and joy to share with all of you snippets of my life with the hope that, just maybe, you will be able to identify with or remember the things that happened in your own life to be recalled with fondness, perhaps a bit of sadness, but, hopefully, with love. Help me celebrate this tenth year of writing by continuing to read my stories and sharing them with others. We all desire to fill our life with joy. My joy is gathered within by hearing that even one of my stories has pierced your heart, rocked your world, or helped to make a fond memory surface from the deepest part of your being. Love and Joy to all!

Copyright © 2023 by Jacqueline E Hughes 

All rights reserved

GREED, SELFISHNESS, INDIFFERENCE

A series of essays….

THE JAGGED EDGES OF MY PENCIL REMIND ME
OF AN ALLIGATOR READY TO STRIKE!

….as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

I broke my pencil today. Yes, snapped it right in two and the jagged edges surrounding the previously encased graphite and clay wand remind me of gator teeth exposed before the fatal bite. 

You see, there is a history here of my constantly breaking, at least, the point of a newly sharpened No.2. I was never a dainty writer. Guess I felt that the harder I pressed down on the paper, the more meaning my notes, story, report, outline, list of things to do, would take on. They would become so embedded within the fibers of each page, plain or lined, that my written thoughts would darken the pages and come alive.

As a kid growing-up in the fifties, many things were broken along the way. Finger nails, blackened and jagged from digging in the rich Indiana soil while making villages and trails for my Indian (Native American) plastic friends, was a biggie. Their spotted ponies would prance down the narrow trails, kicking-up a small cloud of dust on their way to the moveable hunting grounds.

Some toys were carelessly played with and, eventually, broken. Very much my bad… Crayons, all imaginable colors, would break in half from constant use. Putting them back into their box was difficult after that. Mom got a small shoebox out and told us to put all broken crayons inside. We would use them again, soon enough. I could never keep the black one whole even if I tried. I had to outline everything I colored in black before coloring inside the lines. It was like finding the straight edges of a puzzle first and then putting them together before any interior pieces. I guess I required stability and order in my life.

Should I even mention the if you stepped on a crack, you’d break your mother’s back phase? It became a private hell just walking down the few city blocks to the local drugstore to buy a popsicle treat during the hot summer months. The sidewalks were littered with all kinds of cracks!

We moved to Terre Haute, Indiana, when I was going on eleven. It was summertime and my brother and I were trying to impress the neighborhood kids. Perhaps I was showing off a bit, but—I broke my arm when I fell off my new bike. It wasn’t as simple as that. I’d decided that navigating my bike without hands and with my feet up on the handlebars was so cool. Ultimately, I was wrong. In the end, all of the kids signed my cast, though.

I broke a garage window of the rental house we lived in that same summer(before the bike debacle). It was a grand slam home run for my team, by the way. Even street ball has its glory moments!

Promises to a friend were never broken in my estimation. High School friends, male and female, were like the soldiers that guarded your life, your secrets, your raison d’être, never to be taken lightly or for granted. We were the glue that kept a very fragile and vulnerable world together for four years. We worked hard and played even harder and created memories to last a lifetime.

I broke my mother’s heart (at least) once. I yelled at her for not letting me have my way. If you knew my mom at all, raising my voice to her was the equivalent of committing a mortal sin. Hugging her later while apologizing could not erase my guilt.

I broke a favorite tea kettle of one of my apartment roommates while in college. Tried to compensate her with a new one—that didn’t go over very well. 

My husband wasn’t very happy with me when I decided to back the car around within our large driveway without realizing that our second vehicle was parked beside but just a bit behind me. Seeing the two broken rear lights and dented rear fenders of both cars will haunt me forever. 

Things do get broken along this journey we call life. Sometimes we are able to put them back together, somehow and in someway. Sometimes, we cannot. It’s always been my way of thinking that, at least, we should always give it our best shot and go for it.  At some point, what do we have to lose?

Today, when we hear that our country is broken, I think back to broken No.2’s, a wrist enveloped in a white cast, a broken pink fingernail before going out on a date, and broken pieces of plastic taillight covers resting on a paved driveway. It’s difficult to imagine a nation of fellow Americans living within a country that has broken ideals, laws, and elected officials who have not and never will have your safety and best interests in mind! It’s very clear that when we stop helping each other and stop watching one another’s back, we become broken. When greed, selfishness, and indifference take precedence over our lives, we have stepped over to the dark side, forgetting the importance of all living beings around us, including ourselves.

I agree, our country is breaking apart every single day when lives are gunned down within institutions that are meant to make us feel safe. When young children are murdered while seated at their school desks alongside fellow classmates. The majority of us feel the pain of each parent who buries his/her child after losing them in such a hateful manner. 

And, after all of these needless gun related tragedies, our government has not banned assault guns from being sold to anyone who wants one. Our system, at least, is broken. When gun lobbyists, their pockets full of money, persuade legislators that a growing bank account is mightier than life itself—WE. ARE. BROKEN.

As a child, like most of us, I took comfort in the leadership of the adults around me; trusting in them to protect and sustain me from a scraped and bloody knee to placing food on the table when I was hungry. Childhood is a magical, almost mystical time with flying dragons and invisible friends comforting us along this brief journey called youth. To devalue this time by not protecting our children from ‘a bad person with an assault gun’ is sacrilegious in every respect. Shame on all of us.

Can broken things be repaired, made whole once again? As I said before, what do we have to lose? The answer is with lots of hard work, a unified way of thinking, and respect for our fellow human beings…I think we can fix this. But, we all have to want to fix it.

Now that my newly sharpened No.2 has graduated to a keyboard attached to an i-Pad, I still press down hard on each key as if I’m implanting my deepest thoughts and desires onto the small, white screen. In protest and solidarity I write what I feel in my heart and pass it on to you. Today I am asking all of us to do our part and snap the selfish attitude of all politicians with a giant chomp of the mighty gator and abolish the power of gun lobbyists for good! Make our voices heard from near and far. Stand up to the powerful by being, at least, as powerful, if not more so. We can do it..together!

Let’s not sit in our comfy chairs and say that this country we know and love is broken without adding that all things broken can and should be fixed once again. This should include healing our souls, as well. I refuse to believe it can’t be done because I know in my heart, as do you, that with the power invested in us as loving individuals, we can be and are stronger than those who seek to break this land we call…Home.

Copyright © 2023 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

LATE WINTER ON THE HEELS OF SPRING

 

A series of essays….

A CROSS-COUNTRY SKIER SKIMS ACROSS
THE LANDSCAPE OF THE GOLF COURSE WHILE
WALKING HER DOG

….as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

Even though the sun is brightly shining and the wind has taken a break from blowing the layer of powdered snow from tree crotch and limbs, the lonely golfer of the day before sets aside his bag of clubs for another day. Having played his dimpled, white ball between crystalline patches of snow toward red flags snapping in the winter wind yesterday, today hails a different landscape; one conducive to multiple activities by various humans and animals, both domesticated and wild.

The space just beyond our backyard shimmers under a blue sky; no visible clouds. The pure joy one feels while observing a much loved original painting by one of their favorite artists is felt, at this very moment, within the frame of the French doors of the dining room. Snug and warm inside, outside the door is an entire system of nature, life itself, dancing before me like snippets of poetry blowing in from the north, hovering over the eighth fairway, and captured within the knotty alder framework of our doors.

Springtime is right around the corner and the landscape will be changing on a daily basis. Today, in particular, is a mix of sunshine, shadows, snowscapes, and all of the life and exuberance of every living thing.

Beginning with the wild: city Bambi, accompanied by a super cautious mom, have stopped to feed upon the small green patches of juicy, new grasses being exposed with the help of the late morning sun. We who call the inner city our home, have grown so accustomed to the deer population that it’s difficult to refer to them as ‘wild’ anymore. Our very own landscaping feeds them all year long. We watch hosta, peonie, lilac, rose, tulip, yew, and ivy plants become favored items on their Menu Du Jour.

Domesticated: unleashed dogs of many breeds romp and play as their loving humans exercise them within the wide open spaces of each fairway. Instinctively, they charge ahead of their humans or tag a distance behind looking like children following the melodious notes of the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

As the morning sun shines down on the shimmering overnight accumulation of snow, cross-country skiers skim across the landscape between the door frame while cutting out their own fresh tracks along the eighteenth fairway. The many hills of the golf course provide an ample adrenaline rush for them as they bend knees and crouch low following the contours of the course, their ski poles tucked-in at their sides. 

I know that the lonely golfer will return here, soon. And, he will be bringing back with him many more just like himself; golf bags with clubs slung on their backs walking solemnly back and forth, back and forth. There will be four-wheel chariots, golf bags strapped in back with golfers seated under a simple canopy of protection. Multiple golfers pushing, pulling, or remote controlling their club-filled bags over the carefully groomed grass. Like a choreographed religious parade, they will answer the call of build it and they will come!

The wild deer, and brown, black, and red squirrels darting across the landscape, and families walking dogs and toddlers in order to pass the early evening together, will return to the scene. Spring heralds the distinct activities of humans and beasts, alike. Passing into summer and autumn, the constant flow of energy and activity exists between the many mature trees, their leaves giving sporadic respite from the hot sun, as well as physical challenges as golfer’s dimpled balls ricochet off fat trunks and sound like gunshots in the distance.

All too quickly, after the first few snowfalls of late autumn and early winter, the cross-country skiers will return in all of their athletic glory. The cycle will be repeated, completing a full circle. All is agreeable and whole, once again, within the framework of the French doors at the back of our house.

Copyright © 2023 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved