THE INTERESTING THINGS WE DO THAT MAKE US WHO WE ARE

A series of essays.....

Idiosyncrasy From A Writer's Perspective

.....as seen through my eyes!


By: Jacqueline E. Hughes


Let's be totally honest here and admit to just how annoying we can sometimes be to others who often must cope with the idiosyncrasies that help develop the individual beings that we are.

If I'd asked for a show of hands in response to my honesty and placed myself in a large room, let's say filled with one hundred people.....I would have both of my arms raised and all ten fingers proudly pointing towards the acoustic ceiling! I've never been very good at math and percentages so, I really don't know why I filled the room with all these people.  But, my point is, some of my habits do occasionally annoy others. And, I know I do not stand alone here so, as you continue reading this, please feel free to acknowledge some of your own.




Jack LaLanne
Picture Courtesy: teamlalanne.org

I'm not entirely sure but, I think it all began when I was around three or four years old and a playmate told me that if I were to step on any crack on the sidewalk, I would actually contribute to breaking my dear Mother's back.....somehow. At this age, logic, reason and sound judgment, tends to fly right out of the window. Maybe this cryptic message was initiated by the likes of Jack LaLanne, a popular American fitness guru, in order to promote excessive movement or exercise in the very young! His teaching was considered ahead of the times when his television show first ran back in 1953. While my Mother was striking her best 'Glamour Stretcher' pose and perspiring in our living room in front of a grey-n-black, jumpsuited image of Jack on the small screen, I was out doing the 'bunny hop' along our front sidewalk with panic and fear tucked away in my heart.

Picture Courtesy: teamlalanne.org



Movie Night

Not every irritating regimen we concoct for ourselves is based in superstition. Dan and I have been doing this one for years now, ever since we began dating. No, not going where you think it is...... We happen to remain in the theater after a movie in order to look at every last credit that scrolls down on the Big Screen!! Yep! That would be us standing by our seats all alone in the eerie darkness as the house lights slowly come back on and the theater staff is seen scraping Jujubes off the natty, red cloth seats and sweeping up tons of spilled popcorn. Their rubber-soled sneakers become suctioned to the concrete floor by the sugary residue of every variety of soda pop known to mankind. Years ago, they used to wait to 'do their thing' until the credits were over. Today we must stand, eventually showered in bright lights, squinting at the fading screen in order to acknowledge all of the people responsible for the production of the film; this is our personal homage to so much talent and hard work behind the scenes.

"Rites of Passage"
Picture Courtesy: www.mlive.com

Do any of you recall walking in the halls before classes began in high school? What exactly were we thinking with this one? We were either showing off our new outfits and hair styles, majorly flirting with a particular someone every ten-minute round trip or, attempting to control a massive amount of teenage hormones (this would revert back to the flirting) and excess energy before having to sit for one-hour increments all day long in class. I don't believe we were necessarily irritating to the teachers....many of them did stand in their doorways just moving their heads from side-to-side and smiling. Most of us chalked-up their body language to wishing they were young and free again and never gave a second thought to just how absurd we all must have looked. To this day I wonder how many other schools held this ritualistic practice each morning. Maybe they still do for all I know. Anyway, for now, let's chalk it up to the 'rites of passage.'

Why do drivers leave ten car lengths between themselves and the car in front of them as they wait for the light to turn green? Why do families of five or more walk side-by-side at a theme park stretching out like cut-out paper dolls holding hands and taking up vast swaths of real estate while in this strategic dodge-ball formation? Who ever thought that applying make-up to one's face while maneuvering a multi-ton, moving vehicle down the highway was appropriate, necessary or SAFE? Wait a minute.... I get it. These come under the heading of "pet peeves" and will have to wait for another story and another time. Sorry about that.

We are special. We are all unique. Life itself is fantastic at any age and everything we do as loving, living beings does not require a thirty page instruction manual written in multiple languages. Sometimes we just need a little motivation to bring out the best in us. Often it's a simple matter of recharging our batteries for an extra boost of power. Spontaneity is one of my favorite words and a guideline for life and long lasting happiness.  Making plans is emphasized when your certain flight to 'somewhere' leaves on a predetermined schedule. When you arrive at your destination, be spontaneous, uninhibited and open for everything that comes your way. Sadly, spontaneity itself can feel quite strange for many people.

Turboprop Aircraft

Speaking of planes, I do have another superstitiously oriented ritual that I have performed since my very first commercial flight when I was sixteen-years-old. I was on my own and leaving out of the South Bend International Airport in Indiana on a 'tree hopper' business flight to Indianapolis. It was a turboprop plane carrying over twenty passengers and crew, as I recall, and could fly at a lower cruising altitude which lent itself to the short distance we had to travel.

My flight was scheduled to leave at eight o'clock in the morning but it looked dubious because of the thick, low fog cover that blanketed the area. I admit to being surprised and slightly apprehensive when we were told we could now board the plane. I couldn't see my hand in front of me as I walked out onto the tarmac being urged along by the stewardess/flight attendant pointing towards the movable stairs temporarily attached to the side of the aircraft. By the time I made it to the top step, practically feeling my way up as if I were blind, and before entering the doorway, I reached out to touch an outside panel of the plane with my right hand pressed flat, fingers splayed.

By now my hand was cold and wet. I kept it there long enough to say a short prayer to my angels and ask them to guide us to Indianapolis in one piece, much to the dismay of the remaining passengers bottle-necked behind me and clinging to the rickety railing for support in the fog. I was definitely a hindrance to their progress but, by the time I flung myself through the arched doorway and was greeted by another stewardess and one of the pilots, I was feeling much more at peace with my current situation. 



Flight instrumentation is truly a wonderful thing, isn't it? Within moments we lifted off into the thick, gray mist and became airborne! Holding my breath as I clutched the seat cushion beneath me, I realized I was staring through the cockpit of the plane and right out of the windshield into the clouds that enveloped us. Having allowed the cockpit doors to remain open for take-off, I was rewarded with a pilot's panoramic view of this soft, gray world as we slowly climbed higher.


It was mere moments of amazement before the actual miracle took place.....  Suddenly, as though the plane's propellers had teamed-up to push the mist away, our little plane poked its nose right through the cloud cover and Heaven opened-up all around us! The strikingly blue of the morning sky was so intense it was what I now refer to as "hurt my eyes..beautiful."  The rays of the rising sun sent shards of golden light piercing through the rolling white sea that stretched out beneath us and refracted off of the metallic fuselage and wings of our little aircraft. I was not alone. Nothing could be that potent and so beautiful that one could ever feel alone. Whenever asked, "Where did you find your wonderment?" I would have to say, as a young woman, aged sixteen, discovering the Heavens for the very first time.

From that morning on I have honored this maiden voyage of mine into that majestic 'unknown' by touching the plane before every flight I take. And.....I always will!






Blessed Holy Week and Easter Sunday

Copyright © 2015 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

BOOK REVIEW: "Echoes from the Oasis" by A.R. Tirant

I want to believe that each time a person picks up a book to read, he or she will take something of value away with them due to this experience.


A Book Review.....

"WE THE SEEKERS OF KNOWLEDGE....."

.....as seen through my eyes!


By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

As a writer and a traveler, my goal is to constantly be aware of new places to add to my list of future adventures, future stories. Less than two weeks ago I stumbled across a rare find when I was introduced to one of the most beautifully written and verbally illustrated novels I have read so far this year. I truly discovered an island Paradise along with a new author and friend by the name of, Rosie.

A BEAUTIFUL SEYCHELLE SETTING

 Author, A.R. Tirant, known as Rosie to her many fans, has brilliantly whisked us, her readers, away to the original Garden of Eden in her debut novel "Echoes from the Oasis." This isolated archipelago, introduced to us in the year 1912 as the small British colony of the Seychelles, is made-up of 115-islands located in the middle of the Indian Ocean and lies 932 miles east of mainland Southeast Africa. We are placed here just a short time before the onset of WWI when we meet Anna Savy on the day of her sixteenth birthday and, shortly afterwards, she participates in the at-home birth of her baby sister, Eliane. Having witnessed this life-threatening birth, Anna seeks comfort in the bosom of her island, her personal oasis where she is passionately embraced by nature, in order to ponder her imminent future of becoming a wife and mother herself.

Navigating the hillside path to find solace from the real world, Anna looks down on the white sands outlining the Bay and village of Beau-Vallon, her home. Later, sitting among the cinnamon bushes, beneath the bodanmyen tree and near the cleansing waterfall of her own island oasis, high up the hillside, this strong, young woman decides, against all odds, to use nature to show her the way.  Within this soothing setting, she soon finds solace with her decision to become a nurse. After all, Mother Nature had formed the Seychelles out of her love and provided these beautiful islands with unique flora and fauna and an abundance of freshwater streams and white coastlines all surrounded by crystal blue waters. The healing effects of nature served as Anna's guide to help heal the Seychellois, the people of these picturesque islands.

At a time in her island's history when white girls were told they could not work outside of the home, Anna, after making her decision, saw her plans come to fruition only three months later. With the help of Madame Josephine who deals in black magic (grigri), a scheme, using nothing more than the power of suggestion, is hatched.  Its purpose is to enlighten Anna's parents, Albert and Therese, as to the benefits of Anna's new vocation as directed through the eyes of the Catholic sisters who run the Victoria Hospital. With its success, Anna felt free for the first time in her young life.

With freedom comes consequences from the decisions we make and Anna must face the results of her actions when she falls desperately in love with a young man, Louis du Barré, whose status in the community exceeds her own station. The du Barré family epitomizes the French colonization of the islands and its African slave roots with regards to its history and commerce prior to English rule. Louis's love for Anna is reciprocated and this rich and complex story weaves together strong characters who are compelled by their religious beliefs, loyalties to home and family, traditions and superstitions, along with individual guilt and failure. All the while, strong winds of change are blowing across the seas from Europe and creating 'echoes of disturbance' within the simple, plantation lifestyle of this humble island paradise.

THE AUTHOR'S OWN CREOLE DELIGHTS

Ms. Tirant offers her unique knowledge of the history of the Seychelles, her people and culture as she introduces us to a variety of island traditions, feasts and open markets selling local goods and refreshment. She broadens our knowledge of island work ethics and explains to us how crops, synonymous with the Seychelles, have been grown, harvested and exported by the island people for years. We become intoxicated by the essence of the island itself as we take on the role of tourist navigating and exploring via Ms. Tirant's beautiful descriptive qualities that flow seamlessly across each page. The reader becomes mesmerized by her gentle storytelling which allows her characters to take on life and permits the scenery of the islands to engulf us within its various textures and smells.   



THE AUTHOR AS A YOUNG NURSE
AT VICTORIA HOSPITAL

Ms. Tirant, a Seychellois herself, born and raised on the main island of Mahé within a Catholic upbringing and the eldest of eight children, became a nurse there in her youth. She can identify with all of the strong, formidable woman who had to come to terms with a difficult island life where fresh water was hauled to the houses in buckets from the nearby stream and beliefs and attitudes of right and wrong were molded by Roman Catholic principles and ideals.

Men became the provider for the family and women gave birth, maintained their homes, raised the children and became the nucleus of family life. However, in 1912, woman had very little if any say in the important decisions making up the complex world outside of the home. Ms. Tirant's main character, Anna, was slowly breaking through this stereotypical image as echoes of change vibrated across years of island life and traditions.

I became fascinated by Ms. Tirant's subtle usage of 'echoes' themselves that dominated the backdrop of her book. Listing just a few of them, I can still hear the echoes of bells, drums, heartbeats, waves crashing on the beach, of silence, footsteps upon a ship's deck, of a cry of agony and, of course, echoes of changing times.....

Ms. Tirant has seamlessly united the history and people of the Seychelles and delivered a sensitive and extremely powerful first novel that can deliver a 'punch' when it has to yet exposes the softer side of love and human nature within its magical storyline. I highly recommend "Echoes from the Oasis" to all readers. Through Rosie, the Seychelles really do become an island oasis; our own retreat guaranteed to shelter, provide and allow our dreams to become reality.

THE AUTHOR: A.R. TIRANT (ROSIE)

Notes about the Author:

A.R. Tirant emigrated to England over twenty years ago from her native village, Beau-Vallon, on the northern coast of Mahé Island in the Seychelles.  Today, Rosie lives in West Sussex, England with her husband, Stan Longhurst. Rosie has two grown sons and a beautiful young granddaughter who happens to be named, Anna. Rosie and Stan travel back to the Seychelles each year when she conducts more research into the history of her island, and makes note of the constant changes going on there each visit. She is currently tucked away in West Sussex hard at work on her sequel to "Echoes" which will be entitled "Under Stormy Skies" where her brilliant cast of characters are deeply embedded in the horrors of World War I. With any luck, we may see it launched sometime around Christmas of this year, 2015!

For myself, Rosie has become the world's Ambassador of these Creole islands of the Seychelles representing their colorful people and culture. Through "Echoes,'' she has opened our eyes to the logistics of the islands and created a positive and welcoming embrace between the uninformed and the informed which, I know, will draw tourists there for many years to come.

"Echoes from the Oasis" was published in May of 2014 and made the "Amazon Best Sellers" list in January. Rosie received a wonderful write-up in her local village press, Cuckfield Life Magazine, where they describe the success of her debut novel. Discover the Seychelles and Rosie at any of the Links below:


Author Website Link:  www.seychelleshistoricalnovels.com

Amazon UK Link:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Echoes-Oasis-A-R-Tirant/dp/099280860X

Amazon US Link:  http://www.amazon.com/Echoes-Oasis-A-R-Tirant/dp/099280860X

Twitter Link:  https://twitter.com/shnnovels

Facebook Author Page:  https://facebook.com/seychellesauthorincuckfield



Copyright © 2015 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

ALONE

 A series of essays.....

Love, Laugh and Live for Today!

.....as seen through my eyes!



By: Jacqueline E. Hughes


As the old adage suggests and its truth has no boundaries,
we come into this world alone and leave it in the very same manner.....

"We enter the world alone, we leave the world alone," is a quote by the English writer and historian, James Anthony Froude in the mid 1800's.

Orson Welles added his own spin when he said, "We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone."

Variations on a theme.

Waking-up each morning for the past several weeks, I have been haunted by these thoughts. Closing my eyes at night, tucking my pillow firmly beneath my neck and curling-up in the fetal position, I am haunted by these thoughts.

Why?

I tell myself I am not alone.....  The joyful birds are singing as I open my eyes! Their  sweet music carries me through my simple morning routines. My first sip of coffee tastes much sweeter because of my backyard concert.

I am not alone..... The lively conversation between husband and wife of a gentle, spring evening clings to me like a second skin. Plotting-out, planning and dreaming of a time closer to our grandchildren.

Or, am I?

The realization strikes me as if it were a hammer atop my head....I am successfully 'creating the illusion' that best fits within my life's mold. I see the fine line between 'actual' and 'contrived.' It divides my thoughts like a gossamer web stretching between two solid objects. 

"Only through our love and friendship......."

I have no control. The pieces float along the gentle breeze and match one shape into another adapted for accuracy and exactness. We are instruments of the grand illusion...in the moment.

On the outside.

Ahhh....Alone!

We remain individual thinkers, dreamers, artists and imagineers of our own world. Alone, I see the color blue. Alone, you see the color gold. Alone, I am bombarded and assailed by words and phrases. Alone, you create beauty from stone and mortar.

To be able to differentiate between good and evil, we are alone when we choose love over hatred or, to stand alone or follow the masses or, to employ 'common sense' or become a loose cannon....causing damage to this beautiful planet and the people we share it with.

Do we believe in feminism or, do we crush equality between men and woman like so many generations of organized religions and cultures have before us?

Will honest souls prevail and black-hearted souls be crushed by their own cowardly deeds?

When I sit upon the edge of my bed in the cool darkness of the morning and chant "Thank You, Thank You, Thank You to my God in appreciation for so many things.....I know my words are heard.

These are my current thoughts. This is what I feel and know and question as I navigate this world....alone.

I think I now know what has been eating at my soul lately and I am so grateful for writing down these words that have served to show me some understanding.

Thanks, also, to you both, James and Orson.

Simply, Self-Love.

Vironika Tugaleva, an inspirational speaker and healing coach from the Ukraine, sums it up for me by saying, "The greatest tool of self-love is self-awareness. Once you truly know yourself, love is the only option."

If love and friendship creates the illusion, for the moment, that we are not alone, then we must learn to be our own best friend and love ourselves with the passion and grace that we would afford to every living soul around us. We are all in this game of life together.

In conclusion:
We are alone with our thoughts and our ideas. We create a glass-domed world around us....to protect our thoughts and ideas. But, we must watch our own thoughts constantly because they will become the words of people we draw to ourselves.

Love...Laugh...Live today! Tomorrow we will leave this world, alone. I can only hope and pray that all of us make the best choices for everyone in the meantime.....!!





Savor the Beauty Around Us

Copyright © 2015 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

OUR DRUG OF CHOICE......REDUCED TO SHADOW PEOPLE?

 A series of essays.....





.....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes


In the not too distant past, we would initially learn more about people from the outside-in, evaluating them by physical appearance, verbal communication and moving on (or not) from there.  Today, we often begin relationships from the inside-out instead.  Is it possible to become close to others yet never having set eyes on them first?  Blame it (or not) on the influence of Social Media.....

The funny part is.....I'm not sure this is always a bad thing.

No matter what anyone says to the contrary, we choose our 'friends' when it comes to Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and so on.....  I am picky and, even though I am in the business of 'selling myself' (Clearly I am referencing here what I write!!), the option of Liking, Adding or Following another human being via social media is our personal choice to make.  And, the handy-dandy 'delete' button is there at our disposal when needed; a built-in fail-safe mechanism.

There will always be those who do not follow a give-and-take procedure when choosing friends on social media and the exception proves the rule in this case.  Being the most popular kid on the block is always a tantalizing goal when it comes to our ego.  I won't even try to deny that.  And, I do put myself out there at times in order to attract readers who might be interested in my writing.  (I have never sold my soul....thought about it a few times, though.  Does this count?) 

I believe that when we click-on to social media we are souls seeking approval, common ground and acceptance of those we call our Friends and Followers.  We want these friends to like and approve the same things we value so much in life.  It helps to make life easier.  Religion, politics, art, family, music, food choices and recipes, dog-lover or cat-lover.....we soak it all up like a sponge and often value their opinions over our own flesh-and-blood acquaintances. 

Why?  I have my own opinions.  See if you agree with some of them as they are introduced throughout my story.



Image source: forum.xcitefun.net

Humans seek-out approval, as I mentioned before.  What better way to believe that we are doing something right as when we see that 'notification circle' shaded in red at the top of the page knowing that someone has, at least, acknowledged your existence and, maybe even, agreed with something you said or 'shared.'  Odds are, naturally, that others might be disagreeing with you and commenting on your post to this effect.  Personally, I welcome this.  Perhaps it's because I was on my high school debate team but, I enjoy sparking opposing opinions as long as they are introduced with intelligence, 'good taste' and all words are spelled correctly!!!  Just saying....

Considering 'like minds' and all of that, even with cyber relationships, our loyalties drift towards those who have similar beliefs to our own. We are looking for sounding-boards for our personal thoughts and ideas.  If others fail to listen to what we have to say at school, home or in the office, our cyber friends just might!  Again, this is not always a bad thing.  Having a 'listening ear' all your own is a positive and often comforting scenario, as long as we understand that all we will receive is just that....a listening ear and, if we're lucky, a 'comment' voicing support and well-being.

That's not to say that solid friendships are never found on social media because I know that they are.  This poem I once read on Facebook is an ode to strong bonds and undeniable support offered by those we meet from all over the world via social media:

"The friends I have never met.

                                 My Friends online.                                    

It's strange to have a friend that you have

Never hugged, shook their hand or 

Looked into their eyes.

But, you have been touched by their soul, 

Seen the good in their hearts and felt the 

Warmth in their being.

The friends I have never met are not my

Friends untouched for I have felt them

With me when I needed them.

I have confided in them and they are

Some of the kindest people I have ever known.

My Friends....  Never forget how special you are to me."

Courtesy of Daveswordsofwisdom.com

I can hear you now....."Many loving and long-lasting relationships began through the Internet."  I mean there's eHarmony, Christian Mingle and Match.com, to name a few.  When did finding a soul-mate and person to love and be loved by become so technical?  Two words: Free Enterprise!  If we can be convinced that we need something badly enough, there will always be somebody out there waiting to sell it to us!  Never forget that money can be powerful and highly manipulative.

By placing our trust in research and spreadsheets, and paying for the privilege, we legitimize their existence and wrap ourselves up in a cozy 'cloak of security' believing that others have more time and resources than we do when it comes to finding our life partner.  We convince ourselves that the organization within these Websites is much safer than hooking-up on the Internet, alone and without a safety net.  Since people will continue to use these sites, I don't see a problem with this line of thinking.

Before this amazing thing entitled the 'Internet,' acquaintances might have become our close friends through time, trial and error as individuals and groups offered testimony to the fact that humans, in general, required interaction with other humans.  Let's say that we were introduced at a party and discovered that we enjoyed similar musical tastes or that we both liked to travel and speak the French language.  This tact is what I refer to as learning about one another from the "outside-in" and allowing our experiences to guide us on into the next phase of the relationship.

In this age of 'instant gratification' and self-imposed lack of time, we scurry from meeting to meeting, room to room, loaded to the gills with our technological devices while creating a cyber world of online dates and friends.  This takes me to the "inside-out" relationships where we are fed information about another person and then asked to meet them face-to-face, and take it from there.  This leaves little to the imagination, similar to a Miley Cyrus music video.  By the time our eyes eventually lock on to one another, we know pretty much everything about them in terms of statistics right down to the reason behind the jagged, little scar running along the left side of their mouth. 

Chemistry.  "Will there be 'chemistry' between us?" you wonder.  The inside has been conquered already and not much has been left to our imagination.

Are we learning to exist in an age of shadow people?  What will  the consequences for future generations be? 

Let's face facts here.  We Love Our Tech Toys!  We have them at our fingertips twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and sometimes they are the first things we make contact with after crawling out of bed in the morning or the last thing we touch (plugging it in to charge for the next day) at night!  We are so hooked!  Smart Phones, iPads, laptops, Nooks and Kindles.......our drug of choice.  It's all legal, proper and almost expected of us to purchase and use them.  As I said before, power and money can be highly manipulative.

Writing requires much research.  Having answers, pictures and explanations at my touch is a godsend.  I recall setting time aside to visit the library with my handwritten sheet of questions and ideas at the ready.  Having so much information available to me within seconds  while I am still in my pajamas at ten in the morning is a godsend, as well.  And, it makes visiting my local library so much more fun rather than strictly work related. 

I am torn.  On one hand, I am pleased where all of this is going and relish the convenience of 'at the ready' knowledge.  On the other hand, I am disappointed in the breakdown between human relationships.  We spend too little time communicating with each other in order to form these relationships and keep them alive and thriving.  Or, we  confer with our 'devices' seeking life changing opinions and personal advice. 

If I had to write a sentence fifty times on a chalkboard at the front of the classroom as a penance for hasty words spoken, it would read:
"I do love my i-Pad!  I do love my i-Pad!  I do love my i-Pad!....."  And then I would plug-in my password for Facebook and take the consequences!

Indeed, certainly 'one' of my drugs of choice!

 

 

 

 

Travel Is My Drug of Choice......!

 

Copyright © 2015 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

FUN IN THE SUN......FROM COAST TO COAST

 A series of essays.....

Picture Taken At The Northeast Tip Of Anna Maria Island, Florida

.....as seen through my eyes!


By: Jacqueline E. Hughes



Dan and I have always let family and friends know that our home is open to visitors anytime....as long as we are not out traveling ourselves, of course!  When our offer is acted upon, we are like little kids anticipating an exciting time in Paradise and, neither our visitors nor ourselves have been disappointed in all our years in Florida!

The past several days have been no exception!  It's been what I affectionately call a mini-family reunion with brother-in-law, Chris, driving down from Georgia on Friday evening and Leo and Susie, brother-in-law and his lovely wife, arriving a few hours later on a late flight out of Detroit. 

Susie And Leo Soaking-Up Some Rays!

So, with the 'lipstick pink' azaleas blooming around the perimeter of the house in the front yard and the sweet olives alive with their tiny white flowers and orange essence surrounding the pool area in the back, the adventurous, long weekend begins.  Main objective being that of rejuvenation, relaxation and reconnecting, the three 'R's' that help to 'educate' a happy adult lifestyle.

Three Brothers, Their Cigars And Many Stories Shared!

Now, I believe that there is an art form to enjoying the swimming pool in the middle of the winter....especially in Florida.  Plunk down and absorb the Vitamin D, add a liquid refreshment in any category to the mix and proceed to communicate with one another.  Laughing over uncomplicated stories that have resurfaced from the distant past is a convenient ice breaker and plenty of that had been going on the following morning.  When three brothers get together to reminisce about their past, it always makes for an interesting time. 




Susie And I Soaking In The Vitamin D?

Unfortunately, Chris had to cut his visit short and head back up to Douglas, Georgia early Sunday afternoon.  I loaded him up with a container of my homemade turkey chili, fresh bread and other various goodies to take back home and enjoy a hot, home-cooked meal that evening.  I know it's an old cliché, but making sure everyone is 'fed and happy' makes me feel like I'm doing something positive for all....

The Warmth Of Cocoa Beach And
Sand Between Our Toes

Since 'Fun in the Sun' with sand between our toes was a main attraction for all of us this visit, we donned shorts, sandals and grabbed our sunglasses before heading for the shoreline at Cocoa Beach....a mere thirty-minute drive away.  The gentle waves skimming the Atlantic waters greeted us as the sun kissed the top of our heads with its golden warmth.  Walking towards the popular Cocoa Beach Pier in the distance, we held our sandals and felt the cool sand beneath our feet. 

What a magnificent afternoon......and, five miles later, we tumbled back into our car wearing happy faces and anticipating tomorrow's visit to the Gulf coast via Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key!!

It is said that a picture can be worth a thousand words...... 

Risotto With Leeks And Asparagus

Three Bean Salad With
Turkey Sandwich



Lobster Bisque And
Caprice Salad

Enjoying a very delicious lunch at The Waterfront Restaurant of Anna Maria Island.  Our compliments to the chef!





The 'Rod And Reel Pier' Of Anna Maria Island

Ready To Walk The Beach
At Longboat Key

Dan And Leo On Longboat Key

The Beauty Of A Gulf Sunset

Bracing Imbibing Pleasures
At St. Armands Circle, Sarasota, FL

Our View From The Second Story Bar
At St. Armands Circle And Lido Key

Like everything else......all good things must come to an end.  Fortunately, we will always have our own personal memories to remind us of our 'Fun in the Sun' weekend, as well as the many  photos taken that captured the beauty of the Floridian Paradise we live in and always desire to share with family and friends.  

Until next time........!!!

  

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story is dedicated to the memory of Ed Williams who passed on Valentine's Day.  He and my cousin, Linda, married for over forty years, enjoyed their time together vacationing at Cocoa Beach, Florida, each year.  My heart and love go out to you, Linda, at this very sad time......





Copyright © 2015 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

LONG LIVE ANNIE LENNOX

A series of essays.....





PINK HYDRANGEA IN THE SPOTLIGHT

.....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes
Little insights and stories that have caught my attention over the past week.  Sharing some of them with you during this Valentine's week of celebration.....with Love.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NELLE LEE HARPER: THEN AND NOW

LITTLE NELLE

What an amazing name Harper is.  I read once that her first name is Nelle.  Nelle Harper Lee.  Always wondered why she published under her middle name of Harper.  Not really such a surprise given the fact that Nelle is such a feminine, nostalgic and 'girlie' name.  I surmise that to sell this book back in 1960, a book filled with such poignant prejudice and striking inequities, Harper was dealing with some prejudices of her own. 

A female and first time author, Nelle probably did pretty much what she had been told to do by her editor even if it included changing her main character, Scout, from a woman returning home after many years into a young girl coming-of-age in the South. 

Nelle listened, but at what price?  And, I'm not too sure, having read her biography and taken-in some of her references towards naïveté and being an outcast as a child due to an extremely 'Tomboyish' personality, that these factors didn't project her as a hardworking young female pushing the parameters of a 'Man's World.' 

Did it break her?  Had she had enough with the publication of her one book?  No matter how many accolades they bestowed upon her, including a Pulitzer Prize and making her novel into a movie in 1962, soon to become a classic in its own right, did she say the sacrifice really wasn't worth it anymore and moved-on with her life? 

I will be lining-up to buy and read her prequel, as I refer to it instead, Go Set a Watchman, because it had been written before her editor intervened!  Of course, it will be expected and natural even to contrast and compare it with To Kill a Mockingbird.  I hope Nelle is braced and ready for the bumpy ride!

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EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW OLD!

OH, BETTE.....SAY IT AIN'T SO!

We all do it every single day.  It's certainly a fact of life.  And, even though each of us had no initial input in the matter, we merge into the fast lane of 'Life' the moment we are born!  At this time, the precise second of birth.....we begin the aging process.

Katherine Hepburn once said, "If you survive long enough, you're revered.....rather like an old building." 

And, the most honest quote I have ever heard about aging comes from Bette Davis when she would proclaim in many interviews, "Old age isn't for sissies!"

It's inevitable, people!  But, what if we looked at aging in a positive light and stopped fearing it instead?  Taking fear out of the equation  allows us to free ourselves of uncontrollable burdens and encourages  us to live in an enlightened present.  Instead of dreading aging, this new mindset can help us embrace the opportunity to grow old. 

During our first visit to Europe in 1990, I set my agenda for capturing certain subjects and ideas on film.  They included lace-curtained windows from every country and town we visited.  My lens recorded small children simply living another day with family or playing with friends.  Most importantly was my desire to focus on the aging 'senior citizens' and define their emotions via each well-earned wrinkle, gray hair and stooped shoulder I could find. 

What I realized I had done, while looking over my photos upon  returning home, was capture my aging self in each one of them! Even though I had yet to reach the age of forty, I could imagine my subjects as my future self and applauded their resilience instead.  I was now free to reimagine the elderly and identify them with long life rather than physical deterioration.

Each photo showed me people who remained engaged with life and encapsulated a spirit of enthusiasm rather than resignation.  This process of life called aging is lifelong and as we plant the seeds of our existence early on, we must always be self-conscious of what we will have to harvest in the future. 

Oh, the original stories I could have added to each photo would be absolutely priceless to me today!  I wonder.....there's still time, isn't there?

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IRONICALLY....ANNIE'S LATEST ALBUM

OKAY...SO, LONG LIVE ANNIE LENNOX, MY FRIENDS!!!

I don't believe we actually used this terminology 'back in the day,' but I totally had a 'woman crush' on Annie Lennox when I first heard her perform as a member of the Eurythmics.  I loved so many things about Annie then as I do to this very day including her hairstyle, her enthusiasm, the rhythm and depth of her vocal style and her exciting, raw talent.  Talk about a Cheshire Cat smile......Wow!

Seeing Annie perform on the 2015 Grammy Awards this past Sunday alongside Hozier was the highlight of the evening for me!!  When Take Me To Church segued into I Put a Spell On You, and Annie literally belted out the lyrics, I looked at the expression on the face of Hozier standing a few feet away and saw a combination of humility and adoration I hadn't seen on someone's face for a very long time! 

Annie has always declared to be a feminist...."A man-loving feminist," she proclaims load and clear.  When asked by Rolling Stone what being a feminist means to her, Annie states that after traveling the globe and having visited developing countries, "I see women that don't even have the absolute basic rights........fundamental human rights that we have taken for granted.  In the Western world, women have the vote.  We have the possibility to be lawyers and doctors and to have careers that we never would have dreamed of years ago.  Women before us sacrificed so much to help the future generations of women...  What's happened is the word 'feminism' got trashed and completely devalued.  Now the time has come to reconfigure it and take feminism to places where women have no sexual, reproductive, health or educational rights.  It's not about whether you shave your legs or wear high heels.  That's irrelevant."

Annie Lennox the philanthropist has indeed traveled the world and helped raise awareness and funds for the education and health care for those affected by HIV and AIDS.  She has conversed with the influential world leaders, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, in order to help manifest her humanitarian work in Africa and South Africa.  In 2013 she received the Music Industry Trusts Award for her career achievements in music and her charity commitments.

In this same interview with Rolling Stone, Annie explains that after dropping out of the Academy of Music in London because she felt out of place there, she had become exposed to the genius of Joni Mitchell.  "We heard this extraordinary poetry, this extraordinary voice, this extraordinary and beautiful woman, so articulate, just beyond, playing these amazing instruments.  And she was just flawless.  She still is flawless for me.  I don't think there's ever been anybody to match Joni Mitchell."  And, I agree completely.

Moderately successful in the late 1970's in the new wave band The Tourist, this Scottish born "White Soul Singer" and her fellow musician, Dave Stewart, went on to achieve major international success in the 1980's as the Eurythmics.  Annie has compiled a long list of individual hit records and albums that have withstood the test of time and musical diversity and continue to resonate with fans both young and old.

Born Andrew Hozier-Byrne on St. Patrick's Day twenty-three years ago in Ireland, Hozier already has good reason to feel pride in sharing the stage with Annie Lennox.  Take Me To Church is a critique of oppressive institutions and directly addresses gay discrimination in Russia.  To this I say....AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!

Working side-by-side, these two anomalies (as in abnormally talented individuals), Annie Lennox and Hozier have succeeded in Putting A Spell on the Grammys as well as every one of us fortunate enough to have witnessed their epic performance.

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GRAMMY AWARD

IMPORTANT AWARDS

If I were to give out Grammy awards for the most important performance of the evening, non-music related, one would go to President Obama for his critical pre-filmed message when he urged all of us to join the campaign against domestic violence.  The second award would be handed to Brooke Axtell, a survivor of domestic violence,  who brilliantly related her personal journey of abuse by the man she loved and married.  It chilled me to the bone.....and, I honor her for helping to open-up our eyes to this horrific charade into a dark world of pain and deceit.   

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'THE KISS' BY AUGUSTE RODIN

THE KISS

"I love this room!  It is so amazing!"

"It's really nice.  I'm going to check-out the bathroom.  Oh, a bit small, but it's neat and clean."

"Oh, look, look, look.....  I have to wedge myself up next to the bed, but, there.  Now I can swing open the window.  Funny, it's a step-up onto the window ledge.  I can do this."

"Be careful.  Is there room for two out there?"

"Barely!  You can try it, but it's kind of tight.  Listen to that.  I am so happy to have gotten a room on the street-side rather than the inside courtyard.  Aren't you? Even if the balcony is tiny."

"Made it.  Wow!  Look at that wrought iron grill!  It is nice out here."

"I know.  We can hear the traffic of Paris and listen to the people passing by down below.  The hustle and bustle of life."

"Can't quite see the Eiffel Tower though."

"They said that the École Militaire would just block our view." 

"Say, I have an idea.  How tired are you right now?  I know it's late, but we could find a café and grab a bite to eat and then walk by la Tour Eiffel, cross over the Seine and be at l'Arc de Triomphe in about a thirty minute stroll."

"It's already eleven o'clock at night, Paris time...."

"Well, it was only a th......"

"I didn't say no.  Just analyzing the situation.  I think it sounds perfect!  Should we unpack first or just go?"

"We'll have plenty of time to unpack later.....even in the morning before breakfast.  Personally, I am starving!"

"Me, too.  That was quite the long cab ride from the Charles de Gaulle!"

"The cabby was fun though.  He told some great stories, didn't he?"

"Hope I can remember some of them to jot down tomorrow."

"We have a date with Auguste Rodin bright and early in the morning remember?  The Thinker up close and personal....amazing!"

PARIS SUNRISE

"And, The Kiss and his studio.....  Let me shut the window.  Oh, it's so beautiful out there!  I want to get up early enough in the morning to stand out on the balcony and take some photos....maybe as the sun is rising.  If I time it just right, it might be shining through that beautiful iron grill."

"Come here first.  There's something I've wanted to do since we got back to Paris.  Rodin had the right idea about that kiss....."

"I love you."

"I love you, too."



            
 HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
                


Copyright © 2015 By Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved
                                 

NOSTALGIA

A series of essays.....

Photo Credit Naked Authors        A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE......                                   

 

.....as seen through my eyes!



By: Jacqueline E. Hughes


Nostalgia, my old friend, why must I always find you lurking in the vast recesses of my mind...waiting, waiting for my vulnerability to emerge?  Wrap me in your rose-tinted vail so that I may see all that I long for once more.  Seduce me with your false promises but drown this present feeling of 'hope lost' so that I may smile and feel whole again, if only for a short while.

NOSTALGIA

John Larkins, author and one of New Zealand's founding fathers, once wrote, "Nostalgia is the intimate refuge of every man and every woman in a world seemingly gone mad."  If this statement holds credence, this may explain why so many of us choose to escape into a recent past that's been softened and gently shaped by our own good intentions.

My love affair with nostalgia has been a lengthy one and often reveals my true nature as a 'Hopeless Romantic' which includes everything from classic novels to ancient architecture and places that sweep you away to another place...another time.  Nostalgia has always encouraged my love for travel, foreign languages and the embracing of history in all of its myriad forms.  It would be impossible to see Paris without a lengthy visit to at least a portion of her many museums.  Housing some of the world's most important and rich collections, these museums are outstanding for their breadth, accessibility to all and historic importance.

THE LOUVRE MUSEUM IN PARIS

Whether we are seeking to enjoy masterpieces in painting, sculpture, drawings, art objects, and the history of a particular area itself, a museum is arguably the first place to visit in order to flood your senses with a healthy dose of beauty and nostalgia all in one!

The word nostalgia is a strange one.  And, when you say it out loud, it begs to be analyzed.  It feels funny as it vibrates through the nose, dribbles into the mouth and is imprisoned between the teeth.  In the end, it is released from between the lips like an exotic caged bird that's been given its freedom.  With exaggerated expression, speaking it can give the lower half of the face a good workout!  Go ahead....try it for yourself.  And that's just the physicality of this word. 

Nostalgia, as defined by the New Oxford American Dictionary, is a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past; acute homesickness.  For me, impactive emotions radiate from it like laser light beams strobing the atmosphere during a major rock concert and its affect on human nature can be measured by a thousand different points!

There is no intention on my part to debate the positive and negative aspects of nostalgia here, especially since, as stated above, I have  embraced it for all of my own personal reasons.  David Guterson, an American novelist and author of the book, Snow Falling on Cedars, was quoted as saying, "There's a certain nostalgia and romance in a place you left."  This idea has guided me through the small villages of Provence and the wide, organized boulevards of Paris.  A bit of yourself, your own spirit, remains behind in each new location you visit and that place will remember you if and when you ever decide to return! In the meantime, I capture each space, romanticize about it and write down exactly how it made me feel then....how it makes me feel today.

Many insightful factors play important roles as to how nostalgia can and does touch all of us.  They may include age, gender, geographical location, religious background, education, and so on.  Whether it's a certain circumstance, fact or influence that contributes to a particular result in our lives.....we can sift all of these elements together in a vintage mining pan and the odds are that finding the 'golden nugget' at the bottom will be determined by the measure of our desire and time!

NOSTALGIA IN A VINTAGE
MINING PAN

I sift through these elements to help summon all of the great memories I have stored-up in my mind or written down in journals in order to recall the many places I have 'left my spirit' after visiting there.  I reflect upon the beautiful people I've met who have influenced me along the way and graciously shared their spirit, as well as the numerous circumstances revolving around my travels that have generously impacted my life.  From the aged and softened heights of the Twelve Bens, part of the Maumturks Mountains of Connemara in Ireland to the water-smoothed, white speckled rocks found along the Côte d'Azur near Nice in France, and everything in-between.....I draw upon the memories of you each and every day.

ROCK COLLECTION

In an article written by Kacey Culliney for Datamonitor, "Consumers want that trip down memory lane, too, and evoking memories through packaging and marketing falls under the nostalgia and comfort trend. It is about inducing a positive emotional response as they, an aging population, anchor their emotions to another time and place where things were simpler and happier."  A prime example of this would be the annual sales of Girl Scout cookies.  A lucrative business that utilizes this trend fervently....  After all, it's all about triggering memories!!

MY PARENT'S TYPEWRITER

The terminology of 'Retro Style' has been around since the 1970's and the concept of nostalgia is linked to retro.  Wikipedia describes retro as forms of 'technological obsolescence' including manual typewriters, cash registers and bulky hand-held cellphones.  It suggests a fundamental shift in the way we relate to the past.  "Retro suggests a half ironic, half longing consideration of the recent past; recalling 'modern' forms that are no longer current."  As ladies, we may refer to this trend as 'vintage' and flock to upgraded second-hand stores in order to find original designer pieces at a lower cost.  Shopping connoisseurs in Paris have taken advantage of this concept for many years and American woman have returned home with vintage clothes, jewelry and shoes that dot their closets like the sparkling gems their original designers always meant for them to be.....

AHH!! PARIS......!

Yes, I freely admit to being a member of the aging population.  Memories are being triggered by so many sources and Facebook has definitely contributed to this 'overwhelming at times' trend.  If we have reconnected with childhood and school friends, and most of us have, we can literally be bombarded by a timeline of products, music, clothing styles, habits, and so much more every time we connect online.  The true advantage of this trend, I believe, is having the opportunity to share with and analyze early friendships that may have contributed to and helped shape our life as it is today.  Generally, this knowledge can be most enlightening!  And, good for the soul!

Think about how many of our waking moments are spent thinking about our children when they were young and how good it felt to be, well....needed.  Even though the pride we take in raising such strong and independent children is evident and we really wouldn't have it any other way, it is human nature to want to be needed and to be able to pass on to those you love all the life experiences and knowledge you've acquired throughout the years.  And, if so blessed, hallelujah, we have been afforded new chances with new opportunities and they are affectionately entitled.....Grandchildren!!

Have you ever wondered if living in the present might be more liberating for us than evoking our 'old friend' nostalgia to seduce us with false promises?  If you meditate as I do, then you have.  If you are indeed a spiritual being who is constantly enlightened by this beautiful world and people that surround you....then you have.  Who wouldn't welcome improved concentration, increased relaxation and a minimizing of the continuous chatter of thoughts about the future, the past or judgments about what is, which distract us from what's going on in the here and now? 

The blending of these two concepts, living in the present while embracing the past, has been working quite well for me even though I realize this could offer-up contradictions of basic beliefs.  However, I find it liberating to be able to clear my mind of unnecessary chatter through meditation in order to write.  But, to be able to write, it is necessary to fill my mind with facts, ideas and experiences that have been collected from my past. 

Sounds crazy, I know.  But it works for me.  So, they teamed up, discovered that they could make sweet music together and, as they say......the rest is history!

Copyright © 2015 By Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved