the american dream trilogy
DESCRIPTION
This is a trilogy. A look into the lives of three men in pursuit of the American Dream. Tied together through blood they share peices of their journey with their daughter, grand daughter, and god daughter, Natalie. Defining their dreams and the bonds built while chasing them.TRANSCRIPT
TH
E A
ME
RIC
AN
drea
m
To Our Natalie
This is a trilogy. A look into the lives of
three men in pursuit of the American
Dream. Tied together through blood
they share peices of their journey with
their daughter, grand daughter, and god
daughter, Natalie. Defining their dreams
and the bonds built while chasing them.
DREAMS OF THREETHE MEN THE STORIES
NEAL S. HUGHES
Grand Father
My Awakening 2
Light in Everything 5
The Truth is 11
I am a Thankful Man 15
MARK S. HUGHES
Paternal Father
Good Looks and Luck 22
JAMES C. HUGHES
God Father
World Stopped 26
No More Than 33
Riverview, MichiganJames C. Hughes, Neal S. Hughes
1
Riverview, MichiganJames C. Hughes, Neal S. Hughes
MY AWAKENINGNEAL S. HUGHES GRAND FATHER
I grew up in a poor family. My own awakening
began in 1941, when I was 10. I remember rid-
ing the bus home from Father Gabriel Richard, a
private catholic school, downriver Detroit. I missed
my stop and had to walk home down Barwell. My
older brother, James, and I spent most days avoid-
ing this side of town. One of my classmates was a
boy whose father was a steel mill worker, like mine.
He wore bruises under his clothes. But this was part
of growing up in Riverview. I saw the boy on my
walk home and waved. We didn’t know each-other
but the distance between us and those alike was
small. We were the same people. Back then, even
though we kids were young, our souls were large.
1 2
Chicago, Illinois Neal S. Hughes
3 4
3 4
LIGHT IN EVERYTHING
James grew to be tall and wise.
But before he was wise he was
just tall. When I was fighting the
Korean War in the backyard with
sticks and stones, my brother was
living it. The war washed his face
with shrapnel and a brash out-
look. It wasn’t long after his return
he met Julianne. She had jet black
hair and lips the color of sum-
mer strawberries. He didn’t stay
with us long after that. Before we
knew it he was living out West with
the stars. My Momma, your Great
Grandmother, always said Juli-
anne took her heart away to LA.
But we all knew James would never
stay in Riverview. He would never
work in the mills. Fighting the war
was his first taste of life outside
Detroit. I knew once he left, he
would not be returning. He would
write and tell me about the shiny
cars and houses with more win-
dows than walls. His heart was
like the fourth of July. I want-
ed to live that life. My parents
always provided what they could.
That being said, sometimes they
couldn’t. I remember going to bed
with a tired rumbling stomach some
nights. James would tell me stories
about pretty women and try to put
me to sleep. He always had a way
to find the light in everything. It
was from him I learned how to care
for my five other siblings. Being the
third oldest wasn’t just a number
in line, but a responsibility. My sis-
ter Darlene, the eldest, pushed all
responsibility onto James, she was
far to delicate. We didn’t need her
to take care of us, that was James’
and I’s job. My younger sister
Maryln was sweeter than pie and
always looked up to Darlene, who
didn’t always see the appreciation
in that. Close to Maryln there was
Joseph , three years younger than
myself, he was my shadow for the
first quarter of my life. And lastly,
the youngest, Carie. She was the
easiest to love and hardest to
hold. A lot of my mother was in
her. I think that worried us all.
We weren’t perfect, but we got by.
NEAL S. HUGHES GRAND FATHER
5 6
LIGHT IN EVERYTHING
Downriver Home, Backyard Neal S. Hughes, Darlene M. Hughes, Carie S. Hughes,James C. Hughes, Maryln N. Hughes, Joseph R. Hughes.
King Park, Michigan Neal S. Hughes, Darlene M. Hughes, Carie S. Hughes, Maryln N. Hughes.
5 6
Downriver Home, Front Porch Neal S. Hughes, Darlene M. Hughes, Joseph R. Hughes.
7 8
Downriver HomeCarlyle Hughes Sr., Carie S. Hughes
7 8
9 10
Downriver Home Neal S. Hughes, Darlene M. Hughes, Carie S. Hughes, Maryln N. Hughes, James C. Hughes. Not Pictured: Joseph R. Hughes.
9 10
THE TRUTH IS
Like James, I enlisted at the age of 18. I was shipped
off to Vietnam. Little did I know I would leave a boy
and return a man. The war turns some people cold,
for me, I think it warmed me up. Threw me around,
beat me up a little, but I needed it. Yet, looking back
on this event I am blessed to be alive. As soon as
I made it back to the states I started at the mills.
James had fallen deep into the fast LA lifestyle.
His life with Julaine was of a foriegn and unfami-
lar taste to all of us back home. The truth is, its a
picture that entered my consciosness and stayed
there. James had his own dreams and I had mine.
NEAL S. HUGHES GRAND FATHER
11 12
THE TRUTH IS
Returning from Vietnam Neal S. Hughes, Marlene C. Hughes
11 12
Visting James, California Neal S. Hughes, Will M. Jones, James C. HughesFredrick D. Williamston, Marcus P. Phillips
13 14
In the white of winter I recieved a let-
ter in the mail from James. As I read on
about the warm Winter months he spent
galavanting through Napa Valley I grew
resentful. I was hungry for more. Not
for what James had. Something for me.”
Neal S. Hughes
“
13 14
I AM A THANKFUL MAN
By the time I was twenty-five I had a child on the way. I met a girl sweet as
southern tea and she seemed to find something in me that was appeal-
ing. And for that I loved her. Her father was a successful businessman
born and bred. Old Chicago blood, they called him. Her Mother was
kind and soft spoken . My love, Evalyn was a spitfire. Drove her father
mad and her mother weak, probably accounted for half the reason he
was so successful. I wasn’t the man she was meant to marry that’s for sure.
The old man soon brought me under his wing. It sure wasn’t a nat-
ural transition. I learned to wear a suit quite well, or at least that’s
what they told me. Before I knew it I was an executive partner at a
company I would have only dreamed to be a part of. If it wasn’t for
a lot of luck and political placement, this dream wouldn’t be mine,
and this is something I have been ever so cognisant of. I am a
thankful man, not to say I don’t work harder than most. My transi-
tion from blue collar to white collar happened in the blink of an eye.
Having our first child was magical. Little did we know six chil-
dren later we would still feel the same way. Neal S. Hughes Jr. was
strong headed like my brother James. I knew that had something
to do with him being the eldest, but I was always wary he would be
just like him. Following Neal Jr. was Katherine. As soon as she could
talk she took on a motherly role. Mark, the third eldest like his old
man, wasnt born too long after Katherine. They were so close in age
most people thought they were twins. After Mark, John and Kenney.
That was the bunch. They were wild and Evalyn and I were young.
NEAL S. HUGHES GRAND FATHER
15 16
I AM A THANKFUL MAN
Chicago, Illinois Neal S. Hughes
15 16
Upstate NewyorkEvalyns Father, Neal S. Hughes
17 18
I’ve learned the more you come to expe-
riece and the longer you’ve been on this
earth the clearer you see. Without philo-
sophical doubt, you have not seen red un-
til you touch the San Fransisco Bridge.”
James C. Hughes
“
17 18
Chicago, Illinois Neal S. Hughes
18 19
18 19
Grosse Pointe, MichiganCatherine E. Hughes, Nancy M. Swordinski
21 22
I was the most like my father. We
never failed to understand eachother.
He was a strong man that I looked up
to and I held a high regard for him and
those alike. My brothers and I were
rather different, I think my sister, Kath-
erine, and I got along so well because
we were so close in age. I was her pro-
tector and she was the closest thing any
of us boys had to a mother, I wish we
could have been one for her. We both
grew up differently than the others.
Neal Jr, my older brother, took off to
California, much like my Uncle James
did. That was the last we saw of him for a
long time. My father raised four healthy
boys and a my beautiful sister as best
he could. My mother was always in and
out but Katherine and I did our best to
look after the others and make sure my
father, always had a lunch to bring to
work. We were a close group. We loved
eachother . We depended on eachother,
beacuse we had to. Your grand father
was a provider. Food was always on the
table. He made sure to let us know you
can’t float by on good looks and luck.
Education was key. It was the dream
he had for us. Chicago was home, and
home I stayed. Following graduation
I was pushed off to NorthWestern
University where I would study Pol-
tical Science, falling into the realm
of Pre-Law. Upon graduation I found
my way back to my Northern roots in
Michigan. I spent the next five years at
University of Michigan Law School,
one of the finest legal studies insti-
tutions in the country at the time.
Between the nights I would stay up
reading intellectual property law, I oc-
casionally found time to meandor out
onto the streets of Ann Arbors night-
life. Not something many law students
had the opportunity to do, between
case studies. Some time during Fall
Rush I met Catherine, your mother.
She was petite, and beautiful just like
you. Smart and quick witted, she kept
me on my toes. Still in her undergradu-
ate studies she thought I was old and
boring. It took me quite a bit of court-
ing but by the time I recieved my Ju-
rist Doctorate we were engaged to be
married. My heart was in Chicago, so
back we went. Not too long after join-
ing a firm your mother wanted to head
back North. We settled into the quiet
suburbia of Grosse Pointe, and it was
there where we concieved what we are
most proud of.. you. Our darling Nata-
lie. Our daughter. You changed our
lives. From then on I was a recommited
husband and father, work was still and
always a priority, but to you and soon
after your brothers, all my love went.
GOOD LOOKS AND LUCKMARK S. HUGHES PATERNAL FATHER
21 22
San Fransisco, CaliforniaCatherine E. Hughes, Mark S. Hughes
23 24
23 24
North of Napa Valley, CaliforniaJulaine M. Hughes, James C. Hughes
25 26
WORLD STOPPED
When you were born the world stopped. My brother Neal became a
Grand Father, my nephew Mark became a Father, and I became a God
Father, all because of one little girl. You were your fathers daughter. Mark
was a successful man, like his father, my brother, in some ways but let
me remind you, not all, he was smart. Your grandfather invested well
with your grand mothers family but your father, he was a self made man.
JAMES C.. HUGHES GODFATHER
25 26
When you were born your father called
you his diamond, and theres a reason he
still does. You start off strong, unflawed
and undamaged by the world. You are a
child of ignorance. It has been your father,
grandfathers, and myself as your godfa-
thers dream to keep you the diamond you
are. To shelter you from the world until
you are strong enough to never chip.
Never break. Never lose your luster. You
are bright Natalie. We raised you to be a
diamond in the midst of all the stones.”
James C. Hughes
“
27 28
Riverview, Michigan James C. Hughes, Carie M. Hughes
27 28
Los Angeles, CaliforniaJulaine M. Hughes, Marlene S. Hughes
29 30
29 30
31 32
Los Angeles, CaliforniaJulaine M. Hughes
31 32
NO MORE THAN
Julainne and I chased after the American Dream
in California. We caught it, and lived it for all it
was worth. I have experienced some of the fin-
est things a man can buy. But all of that. What is
it? At the end of the day money is no more than
paper. So we ask ourselves what is important.
And as we continue to think about the question it
qucikly turns to a question of who, not what. Fam-
ily. Without the person sitting next to us on the
four hour flight, eating dinner across the table on
a Sunday night, and those who make up our con-
versations, where would we be? Darling, I tell you-
chase the world for all its worth and deny noth-
ing but the best of everything in life. Thats how
you were raised. But remember to love strong, and
do everything with your whole heart. For you are
your fathers daughter and we expect nothing less.
JAMES C. HUGHES GOD FATHER
33 34
NO MORE THAN
Los Angeles, CaliforniaJames C. Hughes, Julaine M. Hughes
33 34
35 36
Chicago, IllinoisJames C. Hughes, Neal S. Hughes, Mark S. Hughes
35 36