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