HUMBLE BEGINNINGS ON SANIBEL ISLAND

A series of journeys.....

THE SIGN AT THE ENTRANCE TO SANIBEL COTTAGES

.....as seen through my eyes!





By: Jacqueline E. Hughes


Thirty-two years and half a lifetime ago......Dan and I discovered Paradise. We ambitiously secured a small slice of it for ourselves and have never looked back with any kind of sadness or compunction.



SEASHELLS WASHING ASHORE

The innumerable seashells that wash up from the aquamarine depths of the Gulf waters stud the golden sand beaches with their delicate varieties and shapes. Variegated shades of deep mauve and yellow blend with powdery white, stone gray, and copper tones making-up the unlimited ribbon of color that highlights the undulating shoreline.  Sanibel is a barrier island which is part of a large plateau that extends out into the Gulf of Mexico for miles. This plateau acts like a shelf for seashells to gather. Sanibel has an east-west orientation. Most islands along Florida's Gulf Coast run north-south. Consequently, this beautiful island is gifted with great sandy beaches and an abundance of shells.

The decision was made and our tenth wedding anniversary was to be celebrated together for one long, glorious week on Sanibel Island. We had heard from friends that the Casa Ybel Beach Resort located at Knapps Point would be perfect accommodations for our visit. Without the Internet to cross-reference our decision at that time, we trusted their advice and booked our September getaway via telephone.

Off we flew to our little island paradise leaving our two young daughters with Grandma to be spoiled and loved for the week.

CASA YBEL RESORT



A STORM ROLLING IN OVER THE GULF

We enjoyed so many adventures that week! Heading out from Casa Ybel, we hiked down the beach nearly three miles to the Sanibel Lighthouse on the most eastern tip of the island. After taking many pictures and resting our sand and shell scuffed feet, we could see the purplish-gray clouds coming in from the north and knew we had better begin our long trek back to shelter. For the first half an hour we watched the Gulf waters transform into a brilliant green glow as the sun and storm clouds vied for control of the sky! We had heard how the raindrops from a heavy storm could pummel your head like small fists and that prospect quickened each step we took until at about a half of a mile to go.....we had to run for dear life! The fists came down on our heads, arms, and legs so fast that by the time we huddled under the gazebo near our resort's pool, we were hysterical with a mixture of laughter and relief. Two souls finding solace within the joy of adventure; two hearts building a solid foundation while celebrating their love for each other.

More than half of the island is made up of wildlife refuges with the largest being J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Preserve. We had read that the refuge was home to over two hundred and twenty species of birds native to the island. Visitors to the refuge could walk, bike, drive, or kayak through the wildlife drive which took you through five miles of mangrove tree forests and tidal flats, just perfect for watching the island's wildlife and discovering the island's native vegetation. We chose to drive, for the most part, getting out to take pictures and stroll along the man made footpaths that meandered the mangrove forests that were so thick....they would totally block-out the midday sun. The brochure I had picked-up told us that "the refuge worked to ensure that these lands are preserved, restored and maintained as a haven for indigenous and migratory wildlife as part of a nation-wide network of Refuges administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The lands also serve to provide a home for many endangered and threatened species." I just liked saying the name over and over in my head. J.N. "Ding" Darling had such a magical ring to it.




CARTOON COURTESY OF THE
J.N. "DING" DARLING
FOUNDATION



JAY NORWOOD DARLING

In later research, I discovered the man behind this interesting title, Jay Norwood Darling. He was an American cartoonist who had won the Pulitzer Prize for his Editorial Cartooning in 1924 and again in 1943. Wikipedia states that "Darling penned some conservation cartoons and was an important figure in the conservation movement who was recognized by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and appointed head of the U.S. Biological Survey, forerunner of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service." To this day I still enjoy saying his name and thinking about his humble contribution towards helping to preserve this amazing island for all generations to enjoy its natural ecosystem and true splendor. Job well done, J.N. "Ding" Darling!

We were a bit fickle when it came to the feast we would partake in on our actual anniversary night and made reservations for dinner at Chadwick's in the South Seas Island Resort on the tip of Captiva Island. Captiva is just north of Sanibel and connected by a bridge located at Blind Pass.

SUNSET OVER SANIBEL

I remember driving our rental car along Tarpon Bay Road, going past Periwinkle Way, the main road that links the two islands to the Sanibel Causeway and the mainland, and turning left onto Sanibel Captiva Road. The sun was softly setting over the islands and its warm glow wrapped us in a blanket of gold as we listened to the radio. Bonnie Tyler was belting out "Total Eclipse of My Heart" from her album entitled "Faster Than the Speed of Night" released earlier that year, 1983.
"And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you only hold me tight
We'll be holding on forever

I really need you tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight"

Music has such a wonderful way of capturing precious moments in time and never letting you forget them.....no matter what.

Our greatest adventure on the island was yet to come.

Heading out for a morning beach stroll early in the week, we turned north along the shoreline. Carrying our sandals in hand, we gingerly avoided walking on the sharp shells. It soon became a habit not to crush the delicate shells so that others employing 'The Sanibel Stoop,' the local's lingo for tourists bending down to pick out the best shells, would be able to find them easily and intact.

It became apparent early on that some new construction was taking place not far from Casa Ybel. Especially when my husband's ears, modified by his years of building multi-family structures, had become fine-tuned to these particular sounds.

PERIWINKLE WAY

There they were, right before our eyes, four pod-like structures each in various stages of construction. Where the possibility of three more 'pods' existed stood three pastel houses. Today, we might even call them 'tiny homes' or small cottages. Eventually, we learned that these pink, pale green, and light blue buildings were part of the original set of 'cottages' that had existed at this spot long before the Sanibel Causeway was built to replace the ferry back in May of 1963.

I wished that their walls could talk and relate to me the many stories about the people who had vacationed there in the past. Who had wiggled their toes in the warm sand, chased their siblings into the rolling surf, and collected seashells to bring back home to Ocala, Sebring.....Orlando? What would the people be thinking now watching them being moved from their majestic location along this amazing beach? Where would they be relocated? What sherbet-mix of colors had the first four homes been: pale yellow, lavender, softest orange, periwinkle blue?

So many questions were conjured up from my inquisitive mind only to be nudged aside, at that moment, by the prospect of the future. We saw the signpost anchored in the sand proclaiming "Sanibel Cottages Resort, Sales Office Located Near the Tennis Courts, Please Follow the Path." We followed the stone path like small children mesmerized by the colorful coattails of the Pied Piper.....not to our doom (we hoped) but, rather, to our destiny.

UNCOMPLETED POOL AND GATSBY VS. THE 1980'S

Passing the uncompleted swimming pool, our attention focused in on the basic design, style, and colors of the new buildings and decided that Jay Gatsby himself would happily reside in these condos that were influenced by a potent 1920's charm. In short.....we fell in love! Hook, line and sinker! So much so that, a mere two and a half hours later, we had purchased a time-share unit for one week each year on an upper floor of a building that currently was displaying a skeletal structure comprised of blocks and sticks.

The furnished second floor model unit was bathed in creamy white with shades of blues and burgundy adding splashes of color. Standing within the large screened-in porch, we were offered vistas of sand and sea punctuated by rows of palm trees, their feather-shaped fronds swaying in the mild Gulf breezes. Our heartstrings had been tugged at, pulled on, and sweetly played by the prospect of enjoying with our children, even for one week a year, this solid slice of paradise. Yes, the foundation for so many wonderful memories yet to be made.....!

And....."The rest is history," as they say.

We could hardly wait to return to Michigan, swoop-up our girls and tell them the great news about the 'little' gift that Daddy and Mommy got for all of us while away in Paradise celebrating ten years of marriage. At the tender ages of seven and four, they had no idea just how our yearly family excursions in early June to Sanibel Island would gratefully impact all of our lives......forever!



Copyright © 2015 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATIONS~~~SCARY! WHEN IS TOO MUCH POWER?

A series of essays.....

.....as seen through my eyes!



By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

They want all the houses to look nearly identical. I guess they like the movies 'The Stepford Wives' and 'Pleasantville' where everything and everyone looks and feels the same. Honestly, is it really that simplistic?

"A local Orlando area family is in a battle with their homeowner's association over a fence for their son who has Asperger's Syndrome. The HOA flatly states that the type of fence the family requires for the safety of their five-year old son does not meet the architectural review board guidelines."  (WESH News, Orlando, FL)

"HOA shuts down boy's  lemonade stand."  (FOX News 13, Tampa Bay, FL)

"A homeowner near Windermere, who happens to work for Orange County's environmental department, has been sued by her neighborhood association for replacing her thirsty grass with a water-conserving landscape."  (WESH News, Orlando, FL) 

Given all of this information accumulated by the local Orlando news media within the past few years, my mind is in overdrive. When it comes down to human beings being allowed to function as human beings rather than robots or puppets, I am very concerned for all of us who live under the glaring eye of anointed home owner committee leaders who are sanctioned by their HOA's to enforce all rules and regulations. 

Several years ago I worked for ISSA Homes, Inc., a high-end building company located in Celebration, Florida. Among other things, I was responsible for securing all pre-construction building permits from the Osceola County Offices in Kissimmee, Florida. I worked closely with the building department making certain that all county codes, rules and regulations were met on single-family and condominium blueprints that were architecturally signed and sealed and ready for the necessary permits required in order to built the product for our clients.

The town of Celebration was born in 1994 and was an original brainchild of Mr. Walt Disney himself! Many say that the plan behind Celebration for Walt was to build an entire town that would reflect our nation's past, the close-knit communities we think of as Small Town USA today. Residents delighted in having large front porches to sit at while discussing the day's activities with their neighbors and friends passing by. Many teens living there may have called it prison like in any other small town community, however, roots were established and Celebration began to thrive and spread.

As time progressed, so did the size of the houses and I had to be careful that our clients desires and selections did not violate or supersede the written laws of the Super Committee set-up originally by Walt Disney World to govern over the community itself. ISSA was responsible for submitting for approval exterior colors or certain building materials chosen by clients that did not match the Committee's codes which had become the 'law of the land' in Celebration.

ISSA Homes was not the only builder in Celebration. And, not just any builder could conduct business there. Each building company turned in an application, was scrutinized, and then had to be voted in by WDW and the governing body of Celebration. I suppose you could say that just to be able to build there was reason enough to accumulate official accolades within the state and its building community. 

Success did not come without paying a price and I can recall Don Hempel, one of the owners of ISSA Homes, Inc., often say, "We must work exceptionally hard to give them what they want. They are buying into a dream here and our clients deserve to have us help them realize that dream, no matter what the cost!" Don fought hard for his homeowners and soon ISSA was building estate homes priced upwards of 2,000,000 dollars.

It was about this time, late 1990's, that Dan and I decided to build our own much more modest home just east of the I-4 corridor and north of the Orlando International Airport. Our small community of seventy-four homes was conveniently snuggled between the major artery of roads leading into and out of the metro Orlando area with a five minute drive on SR-408 that took us into the heart and action of downtown. Initially, our little, gated community, only half completed, was under the jurisdiction of the construction company building our homes. This was soon to change.

With a minimum of ninety percent occupation, our subdivision was turned over to the home owners association. Our modest quarterly dues, for the most part, went to cover street repairs, mowing the lawn and planting flowers within the common areas and, the constant repair of the two gates that controlled traffic in and out of the community.

In the beginning, life was as near to perfection as possible with happy neighbors who gratefully attended homeowner's meetings to learn about the community and have an opportunity to meet one another in closer quarters. Elections were held and soon several of the neighbors occupied official posts while others were to head committees that ranged from creating social events in our small park area to walking around the subdivision making certain that everyone was in compliance with the HOA's rules and regulations. And, that is precisely when politics began to rear its ugly head and work to manipulate the hearts and minds of some of the people we would kindly wave or say hello to each day!

The most uncomfortable part of this realization for me was having to work within this stringent environment eight hours a day in Celebration only to return home to face more of the same. With more than eighty percent of newly built homes belonging to association communities, reports the Associated Press, this scenario is difficult to escape.

Don't misunderstand me.....I enjoy driving through our gates and seeing nicely maintained lawns without any dollarweed poking through the St. Augustine. It's totally understandable to discourage someone painting the exterior of their home 'hot pink' by having them submit potential color schemes to the architectural committee to advise them in a more appropriate direction. What is not enjoyable is to witness some people morph into a 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' personality when given the power to consciously control the thoughts and actions of others.

Most of us can remember these heartbreaking stories:

"On the night of February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida, George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin, a seventeen-year-old African American high school student. Zimmerman, a twenty-eight-year-old mixed-race Hispanic man, was the neighborhood watch coordinator for the gated community where Martin was temporarily living and where the shooting took place."  (WFTV, Orlando, FL)

"In June 2010, Captain Michael Clauer of Frisco, Texas, lost his home when his HOA foreclosed on and sold his house while he was en route to Iraq all because he was $800 behind in his HOA dues payments." (KHOU, Houston, TX)

"In 2008, Joe Woodward tried to rebuild his home after it was destroyed by an airplane that fell from the sky and crashed into it, killing his wife and infant son. Woodward planned out his new home to be on the same property as the original home, but made a few changes; if the new house were exactly the same, it would constantly remind him of his loved ones. Woodward's HOA told him that unless he changed the home's shingles, size, and elevation to conform to their rules, i.e., build the house to be just as it had been before the crash, they would sue him."  (WESH News, Orlando, FL)

In the (GAWKER),written by Lauri Apple, she writes, "Governed by boards of directors....homeowners ostensibly chosen by their peers to represent the interests of their communities....HOA's are organizations that have become somewhat infamous for imposing arbitrary fines and liens on unpopular or "rogue" homeowners, making things up as they go along, treating people unfairly, enforcing strict adherence to their rules, collecting fees, and acting irrationally or even illegally. The people who sit on their boards are often petty, vindictive, utterly incompetent, and/or control-freakish. Regardless, anyone who wants to move into a housing development ruled by an HOA has to agree to follow the HOA's rules....which can prove troublesome for anyone who is even slightly individualistic, or simply laissez-faire about the color of their neighbors' driveways."

Having lived in our home for seventeen years this September and, having experienced a very serious economic depression during this time, we have witnessed the ugly side of human nature more often than we'd like to admit. Please don't even think that our HOA "couldn't possibly" take our house just because we didn't pay our fees or any fines incurred...because they totally could. Apple says, "Today, encouraged by a new industry of lawyers and consultants, boards are increasingly foreclosing on people sixty days past due on association fees." And if you somehow end up on the board's bad side by, let's say, using the wrong colored wood chips in your flowerbed, or you were on vacation and weren't able to pull the few weeds that grew-up in the meantime, it's likely that your HOA will fine you, lien you, and threaten you with foreclosure!

Certainly, Dan and I could have decided against moving into an HOA governed development. Never having had the experience of an HOA while residing in Michigan most of our lives, we truly did not know what to expect. So, you roll with the punches and do the best that you can all the while knowing that you are good people who are neat and clean and expect that those living around you will take pride in their homes by keeping them that way, as well.

Then the kindly looking, older gentleman with his clipboard in hand comes walking around the subdivision on a sunny, Saturday morning and stops, dead still, in front of your picture window to survey the territory. Chicken scratches begin to clutter his once pristine, white sheet of paper and he carries a small camera he uses to document your indiscretions and other petty misdeeds. You question yourself, "Did I forget to coil my water hose in a perfect clockwise configuration? Are the lower branches of our live oak trees hanging below the acceptable level? Have the stains from the fallen oak leaves in the driveway discolored it enough to be an eye-sore to all who pass by our house? Oh, my!"

Scary! We have to ask ourselves, when is too much power? When HOA disputes become personalized making it difficult to resolve them, this can further complicate matters. When board members interpret the rules to suit their own ends, homeowners often must look to the courts to enforce basic standards of accountability, and that can get expensive. Evan McKenzie, a University of Illinois-Chicago political science professor says, "There's no training or actual requirements for board positions." McKenzie adds, "This means that people in charge often don't understand the most basic requirements of the law. Many homeowners don't either."

And, so.....you have chaos!

Copyright © 2015 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

LIVING VICARIOUSLY IN REAL TIME

A series of journeys.....

CORINNE AND MICHELLE AT THEIR AIRBNB FLAT IN AMSTERDAM

.....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes        

Occasionally, my thoughts are written down in longhand. I like to feel the slight heft of my pen and observe the swirls of black, gel ink as they are semi-absorbed into the fibers of the yellow pages of my legal pad and continue to accumulate until they exhaust the space of each blue-lined sheet. Writing in cursive script is a beautiful thing. How it lends itself to a creative and artistic inclination warms my heart and brings me pure joy! Why it is being forsaken within our school system infuriates me....but, another story for another time.

This 'old school' writing exercise began this past Friday when my youngest daughter and one of her best friends from college flew to Amsterdam to begin their sixteen-day, European adventure together. Seeing ink on paper, I believe, was my way of feeling a bit closer to them. With Amsterdam, Paris and London in sight, these two beautiful young ladies have so much to look forward to, experience and enjoy.

Oh, to be so young and carefree........but, wait a minute! Let's apply the breaks here and analyze this situation! Corinne is the Mother of three of our five grandchildren. This includes a seven-year-old and a three-year-old set of twins. Wife of Matt, our son-in-law whose love of hunting and fishing is much like an extended career, she is responsible, hard-working and a pillar of her small family nucleus. Corinne is certainly young, however, carefree may not be one of the adjectives most of us would apply to her everyday, hectic lifestyle. So, how is it that she is able to pull this one off?

KERRINGTON, LYDIA AND BRENDAN

So much thought went into their trip and, many obstacles had been thrown along the path leading to its fruition. I know it had been planned over three years ago with last summer being the original departure date. Michelle, friend and travel companion, unknowingly had other matters to contend with last year when she experienced kidney failure and spent a lengthy amount of time on a kidney donor list with surviving this ordeal as her only objective.

Corinne graciously volunteered her kidney but was denied after taking the appropriate tests to determine if she would be compatible. Would I have been so forthcoming given this situation? I wonder to this day.

Miraculously, a young gentleman, husband and father whose appropriate medical criteria matched Michelle's, heard of her 'fight for life' and came forward to volunteer his kidney. Not knowing Michelle or anyone in her family, he said it was something he felt he needed to do as long as he was healthy and capable of helping someone in dire need.


MICHELLE AND VAN GOGH

Michelle received her new kidney and it was accepted by her without major consequences and....today, she is roaming around the beautiful, canal-filled, capital city of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, with my daughter, Corinne. The attainment of something worked for, desired and planned for so strenuously, made real at last, is a major victory for them in my book. The result of which made so much sweeter by having overcome such adversity along the way.

International texting is magnificent! "Canal tour and Ann Frank House today! Freshening up for the evening. These made me think of you." Knowing my love for hydrangeas, Corinne sent a picture she'd taken of them growing within an Amsterdam cityscape. "It's true....Heineken really does taste better here in Amsterdam!" she wrote while dining on Herengracht Street. When I asked if the colorful French macaroons she sent a picture of were as delicious as they looked, she replied, "I took this picture from outside of the shop! I was afraid to go in."


MY HYDRANGEAS

I have always wanted to visit the Van Gogh Museum so, a few minutes ago, I wrote and asked if it was one of their destinations today and just received this response, "Yep, just got home from there....walked through Vondelpark back to our flat. Enjoyed it very much. Earlier we rode the tram to Central Station and walked to the Sex Museum, bought souvenirs (not from the SM), ate a nice breakfast, and walked the canals." No shocker there because the Sex Museum just happens to be on my list of places to see, too!



MACAROONS

Even though their final day in Amsterdam is coming to a close, if I know my child at all, this day will be chock-full of amazing sights, people and conversations that will highlight her memories of this beautiful city for years to come; generate stories to be passed down to her children and grandchildren. "I remember when Auntie Michelle and I rode our bikes down the cobbled streets of Amsterdam. We skirted around the canals and stopped for a breakfast of Pannenkoeken (Dutch pancakes) at a quaint little café overlooking the Amstel Canal." These memories, coupled with the many pictures she's taken and already placed on Facebook for all to enjoy, will keep this journey alive in her heart and soul forever.

Getting back to the question of how was she able to pull this thing off! One word: Determination! What is that old saying.....where there is a will, there is a way? I know it's quite a cliché, however, if you truly want to do something, you will find a way to do it, in spite of any obstacles. In Corinne's case, any obstacles would be the ones she chooses to create herself because Matt, her in-laws, Mary and David, and, of course, her father and I, were all for it! Leaving young children even for a few days can be challenging for a young mother. Leaving for sixteen days can test one's ability to cope. She knows how much knowledge and enthusiasm for travel she will be bringing back home to share with her children. This experience can't be taught in schools. Her adventurous soul will gently inject the love and respect she has for other people, places and cultures directly into the makeup of her own young children and last them a lifetime. I am proud of my daughter for making this happen!

PANNENKOEKEN

Tomorrow, fourteenth of July, is Bastille Day in France, the French national holiday which celebrates the beginning of the French Revolution. It is France's equivalent to our Fourth of July celebration. Bastille Day is a day of celebrations of French culture when many large-scale public events are held, including a military parade in Paris, as well as communal meals, dances, parties and fireworks.

COURTESY OF: My French Neighbor ~ BASTILLE DAY!

Tomorrow Corinne and Michelle arrive via train in Paris for the second chapter of their brilliant adventure. It will be as though the City of Lights will be welcoming them with open arms, and enough pomp and circumstance to rival the coronation of King Louis XVI with Marie Antoinette by his side. True.... This is probably not the best analogy for Bastille Day. But, you can be sure that cake will be eaten and that the booming, colorful fireworks display at the foot of the Eiffel Tower will draw typical huge crowds filling up the elongated and well manicured, green space of the Champ de Mars spreading out from her base to, eventually, tickle the entrance of the École Militaire (military training facility) located along its southeast side.

The ladies could not have chosen a better time to be in Paris. On this adventure I will be living vicariously through them in one of my most beloved cities in the world and, I can enjoy it in real time thanks to the convenience of international texting and social media. I am so excited about walking the boulevards of Paris tomorrow morning! Ding away little iPhone. I will be waiting for you.....!


Copyright © 2015 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved
Pictures from Amsterdam: Courtesy of Corinne Grimm

COMMON SENSE

A series of journeys,,,,,

THE MAGNIFICENT SMOKY MOUNTAINS

.....as seen through my eyes!




By: Jacqueline E. Hughes



COMMON SENSE

is a small phrase that holds the weight of the world upon its shoulders. A short pithy expression.....never used enough, too often seldom remembered.....tucked away in our self-conscious mind as an after thought instead of the true bargaining chip it is meant to be; eternally useful in successful negotiations of life and in granting us the power to act effectively. Common sense is not so common. Sound practical judgement too often eludes us by escaping into the 'jungles' of conformity, peer pressure and the melee of people trapped in the menacing maze of uniform corridors and confusing information. Facts provided to us by layer upon layer of historical accounts, have been molded and stretched into what is believed to be, and accepted as true. We are now learning that even our beloved history texts include questionable data that has been passed down through generations of young minds and imprinted there as 'the truth.' Do we understand that everything is questionable and everything can come into question?

Common: most widely known; ordinary. Sense: sound, practical intelligence.

Common Sense, the 'Battle Cry' of the new millennia! A third-party of an exhausted political system that thrives under the banner of honesty, good sense and sound judgment. A sagacious pattern of thoughts instilled within each of us to be passed down through the ages. These ideas are not new. Our Mothers introduced them to us as children with the determination and resolution of a saint. At what particular age or circumstance did many of us decide to throw these precious lessons deep into our subconscious, sometimes thought about, often never acted upon? It is time to rediscover them, utilize them and attempt to right the wrongs of our forefathers, create a  semblance of balance out of current social inequalities, and brighten the tomorrows of our children and grandchildren.

Level-headedness, prudence, reasonableness, gumption, horse sense, mother wit, smarts......no matter which geographical or cultural region of the world we live in or which amusingly clever or witty use of slang words is offered as a current substitute for owning it, common sense has and does exist. Shall we embrace the concept?


Copyright © 2015 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
Photo © Jacqueline E. Hughes

PATRIOTISM

A series of journeys.....

.....as seen through my eyes!



By: Jacqueline E. Hughes


PATRIOTISM

conjures up the image of tri-corner hats and the courageous warnings of an American silversmith and engraver. The vivid impression of a loved one marching off to protect and defend with the pending separation beating life's blood rhythmically between kindred hearts. "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,.......!"  And, the school day begins with white stars in a backdrop of deepest blue and broad red and white stripes etched against the industrial green walls of the classroom. Who doesn't recall, at some point in time, the irregular rhythm of halyard and snap hooks clanging against a metal flagpole just outside of an office building or in the schoolyard on a breezy day?   

When the Bible says, "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall," the basis of this proverb is centered upon the ego and personal arrogance within us. Yet.....while standing curbside watching homemade floats of red, white and blue designs glide past as their occupants toss colorfully wrapped treats to the children, we clutch at the opportunity to swell with pride. Grasp at the comforting strains of patriotic melodies drifting in the air as they compete with the loud horns attached to creeping fire engines driven by returning veterans. Our 'haughty spirit' swelling with pride of country, town and a life based on hard work and family values. Small town USA in all of its glory! A touch of arrogance within each of us.

If destruction or a fall must be, it is in the form of believing that our comfortable lives will remain constant, dependable, become more prosperous over time. Sadly, we have recently learned the truth and struggle now to promote a rebirth and the progression of a middle class who attaches importance to convention, security and material comforts.

Our patriotic duty calls for national loyalty in the love, support and defense of one's country. The Preamble to our Constitution is useful in offering clues about the explanation of the meaning of the Constitution and, therefore, is open to personal interpretation.

We the people of the United States........,

in Order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty, to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. (Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America. Spelling and writing is same as the hand-written engrossed copy maintained in the National Archives.)

This is my interpretation of the Founding Father's intent:

We the people......include all people who tread the soil of this great nation albeit color, race or creed.

We the people......will create peace and genuine respect for others.

We the people......will insure our innate rights as citizens of this nation.

We the people.....are intent to defend, secure the freedom of and actively encourage the health, happiness and fortunes of a person or a group. A social effort designed to promote the basic physical and material well-being of people in need. The protection of rights to education, housing and basic securities.

We the people......will free all persons from fear or anxiety and provide basic civil freedoms within the state of being free within our society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's lifestyle, behavior or political views.

We the people......will provide these rights for ourselves and for all future generations of people.

Yet, here in Orlando, Florida, and in far too many cities across this nation, it is a criminal act to provide food for the numerous homeless people on the street who overflow the established shelters provided by the city. And, if it is our right to own a firearm, then it is also our right to use this weapon wisely. Be obliged to instruct others, when and if need be, to be responsible for its use as protection or as a means to our basic food requirements. Considering we as individuals share the same space and spiritual existence with all of mankind...Love and Respect for others, no matter who they choose as partners, which 'House of Worship' they decide to belong to, or not at all, or the particular shade of their skin, should hold no bearing on their right to freedom and happiness.

In May of this year, The Huffington Post cited numerous ways that  same sex marriage would enhance our economy. It would boost tax revenues, alleviate payroll headaches for many businesses, it can boost struggling state economies and, marriage makes people more financially stable and less likely to qualify for government assistance. Not to mention, (Oh! I miss being a wedding planner!), more weddings mean more money and recent studies estimate that same-sex weddings would boost individual state economics by the millions of dollars over the next three years. We must all admit that new jobs and more money circulating within our economy would give people hope and help to promote the expansion of a strong middle class once again!

Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité: The battle cry that captured the attention of the entire French nation, and indeed France's revolutionary heritage. It is said to have pulled the people together as they revolted against the aristocracy during the period of 1789 through 1799.

This French slogan was heavily influenced by the U.S. Declaration of Independence which preceded it. Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, was at the time in France as a U.S. diplomat and worked closely with the Marquis de Lafayette in designing a bill of rights for France. Jefferson introduced our Bill of Rights in New York on June 8, 1789, eleven weeks before the French declaration. It is possible that the French (Lafayette) knew of the American text, however, it is noted in history that both texts emerged from the same shared intellectual heritage. Lafayette admired Jefferson, and Jefferson wrote that Lafayette was "a most valuable auxiliary to me. His zeal is unbounded," ......according to Wikipedia.

Today, particularly after the recent decisions made by our Supreme Court with regards to same sex marriage and the bolstering of The Affordable Care Act offering health benefits for millions, I would like to add to this universal slogan adopted by France many years ago: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.....Diversity! I know we are moving in the right direction.

This Saturday, when we stand curbside watching the bands, floats and emergency vehicles glide by, waving small American flags, and ducking in fear of getting peppered by rainbow drifts of hard candies, we should take a moment to check our emotions. Ask ourselves if we are standing among our neighbors and friends out of obligation, patriotic duty, or fun and enjoyment......hopefully, a bit of each!

Each time we make eye contact with 'Old Glory,' lovingly named such by Captain William Driver, a shipmaster from Salem, Massachusetts, in 1831, think about our nation's history and the many patriotic men and women who have helped to form the basis for which our nation stands. Resolve to apply the basic principles of patriotism to our daily lives and assist in creating a better, more cohesive world for future Americans.

Adlai Stevenson, American politician and diplomat, summed it up perfectly for me when he said, "What do I mean by patriotism in the context of our times? .....a sense of national responsibility. .....a patriotism which is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."

We the people......in this together!

Enjoy your 4th of July celebrations.....2015!



Copyright © 2015 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

 

MY UKRAINIAN CONNECTION

A series of short stories.....




The Moshak Family With One-Year-Old Me Sitting Between Grandma And Papa

.......through my eyes!


By: Jacqueline E. Hughes




***This story was originally posted on February 27, 2014, and honors the memory of my dear Grandparents, as well as my Ukrainian heritage.
Today I would like to add a new friend to this dedication, Helena Fabs, owner of Baba's Pierogies located in Brooklyn, New York, who "Finds great pleasure in serving up delicious Eastern European cuisine using sweet, savory, classic, and non-traditional ingredients." Just like my Grandma used to make.......!

Helena Fabs at Baba's Pierogies
Picture: Courtesy of Helena Fabs

"Papa Antone and Grandma Alexandria, allow me to explain my life today because of both of you..."

Greetings Ultimate Throwback Thursday!  Ever since initially choosing to post my Blog on Thursday, I've always felt the desire to tie it in with a proper 'Throwback.'  Prompted by current events, what little I know about my Ukrainian heritage is flashing before me like brightly colorful neon signs: Aunts and Uncles; Old World vs. Modern Lifestyle; Papa and Grandma Moshak; English Language vs. Russian Language competing for top honor......

Each set of words burst forth from memories that pound inside my head and chest and hiss above me through the air as though they were the illuminating fireworks above Sochi; the heart wrenching death shots resounding in Kiev's Independence Square.

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


I am a little girl once again. Papa leads us out to his lush and aromatic backyard garden where we crunch and chew on many of the green beans we pick and place the rest in a basket for dinner. Next stop...round, firm tomatoes the color of my Mother's lipstick and picked from the vines by Papa at just the right moment. Lastly, small to medium size cucumbers are picked by the dozens and gently placed in a galvanized bucket to be washed later. These beauties will be crunched and enjoyed at many future family meals. But, only after Papa fills his pickle crocks down in the cool, dark cellar with water, vinegar, salt, onion, garlic, dill, our cucumbers and a variety of seeds and allows them to ferment in this brine until only he knows when they are ready to eat. He just knows these things. He's been repeating this process for ages!

                                          

My 'Shirley Temple' Days

We run back into the large brick house to see Grandma (always) standing at the kitchen stove stirring soup for supper....with the idea of stretching the large quantities of food as far as possible due to the many stomachs she needs to fill.  If she wasn't feeding her own eleven (with two more having died at birth) children, plus, each meal, she always made certain there was enough for neighbors who were bedridden or simply in need of good, hot food.  Returning home, she allowed sufficient time to roll out and fill each petahe, Ukrainian dumpling, with cheesy potatoes, sauerkraut or prunes for the evening meal.  She would show me how it was done and then we'd stir sour cream mixed with cottage cheese until smooth for the cream sauce to be served over the dumplings.  The petahe were a royal pain in the bottom to make.  They were, however, quite a tasty and inexpensive dish.  I can still see her round, overworked hands move like lightening as they crimped each one, dusted it with flour and lined it up along the long kitchen table until collectively they resembled a small, chubby army standing at attention!  I feel she could make them blindfolded. After all, she had been perfecting this procedure for a very long time.

You see, my Ukrainian Grandparents were passengers on two separate vessels that traveled several months apart but, were on the very same mission: Escape The Bolshevik Revolution, also known as, Red October 1917.  Along with many of their relatives, they entered the United States via Ellis Island and Grandma's given name, Olga, was officially changed to Alexandria because, evidently, too many woman with the name of Olga were coming through Ellis Island on that particular day!  Soon, she would settle this score.

Many of these broken Ukrainian  families settled in the larger cities to the north including Philadelphia, Detroit and Chicago, where many of my relatives relocated and eventually found employment.  The Windy City afforded them a comfortable environment to establish 'new roots,' send their children to school and live a relatively comfortable life among the large pockets of Russian refugees that poured into Chicago every day.

I remember my uncles, as well as my own Father teasing Papa during relaxed moments on a Sunday evening after everyone mellowed under the satisfaction of good food and pleasant company. Papa never forgot why he had to forsake his Motherland and these memories would enhance the sorrow he harbored deep inside...especially after imbibing several vodka shots cloaked under the guise of a heavy, white coffee mug. "Pa, why did you leave the Ukraine so many years ago?" they would ask him. His predictable reply was, "Those damn Bolsheviks!!" 




Petahe (Pierogies) With Sour Cream and
Cottage Cheese Sauce

My Grandparents met and lived in Mishawaka ~ South Bend, Indiana, and were a small branch of the original Chicago contingent. Papa Antone (Tony) hand-built their red brick, two-story home located on Cedar Street and they raised their family there. This included a few of their oldest grandchildren. I proudly proclaim that my beautiful Mother, Olga (score settled), was a part of the growing establishment of 'women working outside of the home!" And, Grandma, having raised her children, for the most part, in poverty, through the Great Depression and World War II....was proud to see her American daughter(s) making a difference.

For several summers, my older brother and I called the house on Cedar Street our home. We often attended St. Michael's Greek Orthodox Church services on Sundays walking the few blocks to this imposing, European-influenced structure. Later in the day, Papa would take us on wheelbarrow rides around the neighborhood as he checked-in on friends and their families. Sunday evenings, following the grand family meal, Grandma would release her long, flowing hair from the tight braid that she would have wound in a thick circle at the back of her head and worn throughout the busy week. I recall how long and glossy it was...as if it had never been cut before! She would sit in front of her mirror and brush it at least one hundred strokes while I sat on her bed watching, intently. 




My Beautiful Mother.......Olga

Many of my aunts and uncles still lived at home and attended high school or one of the local colleges in the area which included Indiana University South Bend and Notre Dame. Not too shabby! My Uncle Bill became a high school math teacher and Uncle John, the youngest son, taught Russian Language and Russian History courses in Skokie, Illinois, outside of Chicago. During his teaching career, he managed to take several trips to Moscow and Kiev in Russia and bring his acquired knowledge back home to his students.

There would always be someone running in or out of the house with Grandma yelling at them in Russian to close the door behind them. Russian was always the preferred language of my Grandparents. However, the youthful, American spirits who dominated the household with so much energy and freedom to spare, favored English. My aunts and uncles, especially the younger siblings, cherished the dominance of American culture and often negated the influences of their Ukrainian heritage stating, "We were born in America with new ideas and the 'Old Country' is just that, old." They lived in fear of the scrutiny of their piers believing that the 'old ways' would somehow diminish or even deplete their birthright of American abundance.

Even at the young age of three or four, I could feel the sadness that engulfed my hard-working Grandparents whose only desire was having the best for all of their children. Eventually, life and circumstances wore both of them down. I can't help but think about the first-hand knowledge and fascinating stories about their Homeland that my aunts and uncles missed-out on while growing-up. Most of them verbalized their genuine regrets later on in life....much too late.

I have my regrets, too! To have been older and better able to take advantage of learning the Russian language by my own Grandparents certainly tops the list. By the time I was picking those green beans in the garden, my Grandparents had learned to be ashamed of their native Russian language and only used it to communicate with relatives and friends of their own generation. When I would ask Papa about the several Russian Language text books he'd brought over with him on the boat, he would walk away from me while muttering, "Too hard to learn; too hard to teach." Unfortunately, my Mother, one of the older siblings, had never been taught, either.

Papa always worked with his hands, either in the garden or in his basement woodworking shop. His work was intricate and beautiful and many, if not all, of the pieces of furniture upstairs were handmade by him. I can still see and smell the aromatic curls of wood sifting down onto the work table as he hand-planed each piece of wood into the proper shape. I know that by sharing this time with him, I developed my appreciation for shape, style and texture and, to this day, associate the beauty of design with my Papa's dry, slightly gnarled, wise, old hands.

My dear Grandparents learned from their own children how everything changes, shifts and evolves. It is inevitable. The passing of time promotes all change just as education serves to define it. What had served my Grandparents well while growing-up in the Ukraine was certainly the stepping stone leading up to their need for a safer, better life found in America. Even though they fought hard to keep the memories from the old country alive, they knew that the next generation would grow up in a different land with new ideas and values. However, it would always be the hardworking ethics and values of my Ukrainian born Grandparents that would be the super glue binding one proud generation with another.

I am a part of the generation defined today as 'Baby Boomers.' We are a bona fide product of the time recently marked by the end of WWII when prosperity and too much free time blessed our own parents. But, that was okay! I am here and I don't plan on moving on anytime soon. In the meantime, I have years upon years of outrageously interesting memories filed neatly away which I fully intend to tap into from time to time in order to do what I do best.....write!



Alexandria and Corinne

Now that my stacks of memories are ample enough to fill volumes, it is easier to reflect back on time itself and remember my Grandma's smile and warm touch that let me know I could do no wrong in her eyes; My Mother's translucent, freckle sprinkled skin and sun kissed, strawberry blond hair that predetermined a lifestyle filled with floppy hats and plenty of natural shade; My own preoccupation with a negative body image and rounded, Slavic nose. Sorry Grandma....still hyper critical of myself after all this time. Two daughters, my own Alexandria and Corinne, so named with Alexandria reminding me of my Mother in stature and unmasked kindness and Corinne always reflecting strength and her Father's chiseled looks and Irish appeal.

The next frontier: My three adorable Granddaughters! They represent the generation of 'what can be, will be,' and personally envelope me within a bright and colorful cloak of five generations of caring, loving, and strong women.

Sadly, I may never step foot on Ukrainian soil in my lifetime. However, the principles of respect, the power of caring for and about others, as well as the strength gathered within a loving nature, will always run through my veins. I take extreme pride in my Ukrainian heritage and will always attribute many of my strengths to Grandparents who, no matter what, knew how to Love......





With Love.....Your Granddaughter, Jacqueline.

NOTE: My heart and prayers go out to the people of the Ukraine today, tomorrow and always!  May you find the Leadership, Peace and Happiness you deserve.  Many of my relatives live in the Ukraine today and I think of you often.....




Copyright © 2014 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved

PHOTOS © Jacqueline E. Hughes

PART TWO: AN UNEXPECTED ROAD TRIP AND MORE

A series of essays.....

~WALKING THE KAL-HAVEN TRAIL~
CONNECTING KALAMAZOO TO
SOUTH HAVEN

.....as seen through my eyes!



By: Jacqueline E. Hughes


Part Two: 'An Unexpected Road Trip'

We've been home now for only seven days since unexpectedly driving back up to Michigan nearly two weeks ago! We had a date with a realtor and we kept it. You see, I had fallen in love with an adorable little house....a sweet cottage located in Kalamazoo and not far from where our daughters live.

It's insane, I know, but when I fall in love, the full weight of the euphoria hits me like a pleasant blast of mountain air and my mind begins to spin from the impact making me think and do crazy things. Previous impetuous behavior has gotten me into hot water so, I had to be cautious with the spell this house initially cast upon me.


MIKE

My belief was that if I could possibly get Dan up to see this 'little gem' for himself, well, I might just be able to convince him that it was the right step towards our future. How could this trip even be a possibility with his busy schedule at work and the fact that we'd both been up to Michigan to visit the kids within the last month? Somehow, we worked it out and thus began our road trip up to see Mike from Berkshire Hathaway Home Services and actually walk through the cottage with my husband.

When it comes to business, Dan does not 'wear his heart on his sleeve' as I tend to do.....with him being the practical one and me the dreamer. Within the capacity of being a builder himself, Dan inspected every crevice, crack, and corner of this adorable, 1941, structure while listening for creaks and groans and things that might go bump in the night or day! He was very thorough!

CUTENESS ON DECK!

Yes, he did find some issues.....like I mentioned before, the previous owners throughout the years enjoyed the protection this lovely, little home gave them from the elements. However, they neglected to emphasize the sheer beauty of this petite structure and forgot to polish it via practical upkeep, every now and again, so that her luster would shine strong and bright. After all....she is a real gem!

We talked for hours afterwards, weighed the facts and tossed about all of the pros and cons. I was smitten. Dan was working on it.



By that evening we were once again asking the kids if they thought this particular house was a good idea and decided to test-drive it out with the grandchildren. Bringing them over was such an unexpected  treat. They especially enjoyed running up and down the hill in the backyard, finding golf balls hidden in the tall grass (the lot backs-up to a golf course), and hiding in the bedroom closets as the echoes of their laughter drifted throughout the little house. Yep! This pretty much did it for us!! By Friday morning we were placing an offer on the table. After several negotiations, with my capable husband holding-on strong to his beliefs, our offer was accepted!

Late Saturday morning, the day after our victory dance, we were saying good-bye once again and tucking ourselves into the KIA for the trip back home to Orlando. It was a total whirlwind but with pleasant results to savor that made the drive home much more palatable.

ROLLING INTO ATLANTA
HEADING HOME

As I sat snuggled in my seat watching the world fly by us at eighty-miles an hour, it was comforting to reflect upon our lives up to this point and feel such amazing joy and pride. We have a beautiful, healthy family who, like so many others, are living in the moment and embracing the thrills of existence and the struggles of growth... together. Just like sitting in the sturdy, little vehicle that encapsulated us as we traveled down the super highway, our lives zoom by fast and furious and there's absolutely nothing tangible that can slow the momentum.....

TAKING STEPS INTO THE FUTURE

One road trip down since discovering more about what lies ahead for us. I can only imagine how many more will be written into our future. But, there is satisfaction in knowing that each one brings us closer and closer to.....Home!


Copyright © 2015 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved