In the face of the greed and lust for status that plagued the world, Eliza would eventually turn out to be the President of the US. She always believed that an inspired leader would “Shape the type of environment required in this world to enrich the lives of mankind and enable the development of capabilities that would send humanity into the Cosmos. They would preserve life and diversify our history, our legacy, and do things right this time, rather than have a new civilization be stricken with ignorance or be shamed by leaders who are murderous tyrants and then subsequently suffer from plagues we already had learned to overcome. We can evolve, we can unite, and we can diversify our locations of existence throughout the stars and galaxies, but still keep in touch, and preserve life and abundance rather than leave desolation and devastation in our wake.
— “in this way, we can go further than ever before, but with promise and surety.”
At this time in her life, however, Eliza was not aware of her near-distant future, yet she contemplated on her internal ethics, what drove her, and to her the future was just a few steps away, “Lives can be improved, suffering reduced, and through that, humanity has a promise of a future filled with joy and peaceful laughter. Ideas of seeking power cannot waste any time clouding my judgment. I am grateful that with my friends, or in other words all who work with me, we have already come a long, long way.”
Eliza meditated on all she knew, upon each of her closest of friends—her kindred spirits, and her experiences, the experiences that shaped who she was, the wisdom that helped her to see so clearly what was required to be done, and then she drifted to the very beginning…
Chapter 05: Eliza Williams, Section 2
Eliza was born on Wednesday, July 2nd of 1980.
Many years prior, Eliza’s parents had established roots in the small and quaint colonial town of Cambridge within the state of Massachusetts, near several parks that were close enough to the coast, following a decently-sized walk, and not too far northwest from Harvard and MIT. They had planned for and purchased a calming and pleasant brick and stone home with white columns and trim. Ivy covered some parts of the building architecture and most of the stone walls surrounding their ten-acre yard on the northwest end of Garden Street.
During their first summer at their acreage, Eliza’s father and mother had built a small one-acre pond with a waterfall adorned with a human-sized feminine angelic statue atop the center of the tiny island that cycled the water. The pond was purified through the water pouring from the cupped hands of the marble figure, which was the source of replenished water as it fell upon the stones and small and colorful gravel creating mineralized water that was oxidized, before cycling calmly into the pond itself. The tiny lake was filled with healthy plants and organisms, providing a healthy ecosystem for the frogs and the coy fish within. As the water orbited around the statue, a small windmill picked up enough energy to cycle the water back through the statue, where the cycle would continue. The frogs and coy fish, in turn, helped to organically lessen the negative impact of too many mischievous bugs during the warmer summer months.
Surrounding the pond was beautiful, useful, full, and lush vegetation. Along with the fragrant benefits of sage, mint, and the lightly-scented flowers, that kept unwanted insects away and added to the aromatic nature of the Williams’ place of personal reflection, there were medicinal plants such as yarrow and aloe vera.
Surrounding the perimeter of the acreage, there were red and green leafed maple trees intermingled with cypress evergreens. Stone pathways allowed for walking excursions from the house to the significant features of the yard, including the weather-proofed tool shed with electricity tied into solar arrays and several windmills and restroom facilities near the northeast perimeter. Flowers surrounded the stones, Tennessee Blue Grass filled the open spaces, flower beds, herbs and spices were in-between the many varieties of trees, along with the walkways, and on the grounds around the perimeter. A swing for two had been nestled between two white oak trees twenty yards from the pond. Stone benches were carefully placed around the tiny lake. An ideal clearing for a view of the nighttime sky was located between the statue of an angel and their home. Their terrain created the perfect environment for tenting and soaking in the ambiance. Their home was enviable to many.
The Williams’ choice of location and setting helped them to maximize their peace of mind and as such their focus toward their professions, their studies, and their eventual plans to raise a child or more with room and board for foreign exchange students or extended family available, if it were ever needed. They waited years before having a child and spent their time-saving money, paying off their estate and creating the ideal situation for rearing children, investing their money strategically in the latest promising technologies and emerging industries, both in stocks and mutual funds they had vetted and believed in, and they had done so and continued to do so successfully.
Eliza’s parents wanted to enable their children to attend the best universities the country had to offer, with instructors who taught with clarity, while motivating others’ desires to learn, rather than suffer through the type of brutal instruction that sucked the life out of anyone’s desire to absorb the wisdom of the ages through study, knowledge, and experience. They did all of this because they wanted to raise any child in their home in a way that would afford them the best of success in life. They wanted them to have the opportunity to focus on constructive achievement in ways that had not been gifted to them when they were young. Diligent labor, wisdom, and struggle had helped their parents to achieve their hopes. Proper mentorship, instruction, love, joy, and nurture would help their children to attain the most benevolent dreams of humanity.
Drs. Janice Clarity Williams, Professor of Theoretical Physics at MIT, and James Gale Williams, Professor of Neurology at Harvard University, had both worked very hard, despite all. Every day of their careers they saved and invested money in promising enterprises and enjoyed their estate while improving upon it, rather than spending it on frivolity, keeping up with the mindless crowd, or going on lavish cruises or wild adventures. They chose, as an alternative, to spend their free time beautifying their gardens, sharing ideas with each other, enjoying their ambiance while on walks along the beach nearby or around their community, and they waited until the time was right before they would bring new life into the world. Patience is almost always a virtue, and little did they know that it would also bring about the right kinds of experiences at a point in history and time that would gift the world with a precious mind. The environment for their child would be replete with the ideal influences, shared knowledge, and inspirational capacity for a gifted individual and a new generation to have the tools needed to help humanity to go even further than ever before.
Janice and Gale were not particularly religious; they were agnostic to the extent to which they had their own beliefs but appreciated the various religions if they taught kindness. They knew they had no idea about what came after death and were not afraid to admit the fact that they were pretty sure no one else honestly knew either way. They only had hopes for some sort of progression no matter how eternity continued. Yet, they carried themselves with great respect toward anyone who was considerate of others and their well-being, regardless of their beliefs. Eliza’s parents worked together for many years, and because they approached life as a team, they were well-grounded and seemed to attract friends whose beliefs were perceived through action, the sort of activity that fomented dignity, kindness, respect, and compassion.
Her parents felt that “people’s spirituality was viable so long as people did not lose their way—dictates that protect people from malevolence have a reasonable purpose; what a person believes is okay, so long as it is meant to drive them to be better people.” More importantly, “the environment a person chooses to surround one’s self with will have a major effect on the health of the individual and the neurons in the brain and that will either help or hinder the genes expressed within an individual’s DNA, which will, in
turn, affect future generations.”
While they didn’t consign themselves to religion, they knew that generalizing anyone would be errant on their part, they also knew that there were terrific people of large varieties of faiths and belief systems, and they knew that they were beholden to their own set of values, as such, they led by example and not through ridicule or arrogance. They knew what good people were and didn’t feel the need to buy into someone else’s definition of the “unknown” to help them to become delightful human beings.
In their own spiritual lives, they regularly practiced and appreciated yoga, enjoyed physical fitness activities, listened to gentle and even modern music, took breaks with reflective meditation, and sought to enlarge their focus by studying the various sciences beyond those learned from their professions. On occasion, they engaged in silent prayer to whomever or whatever it might be that guided life and sentient beings. However, that was as far as religion went for them, for they were both realists and visionaries. “We believe in enabling a kinder world, where instead of the apparent way things are, decent people can and ought to be enabled to climb to positions of leadership and influence. Good people don’t hurt others to get their way, nor do they murder, maim, or reduce the quality of life of another. If the good lead, they will heal and raise the bar for humanity in so many promising ways that threaten the existence of no one.”
She truly missed her parents. Both were wise and excellent in their professions as professors, and they were dedicated to science. They appreciated anyone who was understanding and compassionate, constructive and productive, and who took pride in benevolent goals and actions.
As the big moment of Eliza’s “day one” drew near, things began to fall into place rather well despite all. Due to their sterling nature and deep friendships among very resourceful, honorable, and intellectual people, they were blessed to have the help of their family friend, Yesenia. Yesenia had learned English and had left what is known today as Estonia many years ago, during the time of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics, on a foreign exchange diplomacy visa to attend MIT and work in the US. That is when she had met Janice thru Gale, who was then studying neuroscience, visiting Janice from Harvard. Not long after, Gale introduced Yesenia to his friend, Stewart, who was also visiting and in the same classes as Gale.
Couples, Janice and Gale, and Yesenia and Stewart had hit it off from the start. Both began a long-term friendship that would have lasted a lifetime. Things seemed to fall into place so well. Yesenia had studied a triple major at MIT, earning doctorates in Neurology, Physiology, and Psychology, so she was, therefore, well-versed in mental and physiological health and had a healthy respect for education. This helped, especially as it pertained to those early years, and together the two families would be able to raise their children as a sound team when ready.
After both couples received their post-doctoral degrees, Yesenia and Stewart, Janice and Gale, pursued their careers, saved their money for their future families, and visited one another almost on a daily basis, providing validation and moral support along the way. They eventually went as two couples to the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada, and eloped. They were two happy couples, Janice and Gale, and Yesenia and Stewart. Together they held a double wedding and took their vows on September 11, 1976.
Emotions and hopes were high at that time in their lives since both couples considered each other family, friends, and part of one another’s lifetime team. Together they were witnesses to decisions made, successes shared, and they often reflected on their collective experiences. They had even planned on worldwide journeys, fun activities, and cruises further into the future.
The four friends were delighted when Yesenia gave birth to their daughter, Yesha, on Friday, July 1st of 1977. The four had prepared ever so diligently, and both Yesenia and Stewart were overjoyed with their vibrant young daughter—her greenish-hazel-beige eyes, her dark brown almost brunette hair, her beautiful soft skin and light tan complexion, and the most darling of smiles. Stewart would fly his baby girl around like she was Super Girl and both of her parents would take her on picnics, lay on their backs with her in between them, look up at the clouds, make shapes out of them, and describe what they saw to Yesha. Eventually, Yesha grew to explain and share what she saw within them as well.
Their bliss was soon to be rattled. Heartbreakingly, after sharing many Thanksgivings with Janice and Gale, Friday, November 23, 1979, resulted in the first blow to this happy team of five. Stewart suffered a stroke and was carried by ambulance to the hospital. The next day, he passed away, with Yesha, Yesenia, Janice, and Gale surrounding him, listening to see if he would speak again. They hoped, sat, paced back and forth, and took turns standing and watching to see if he would awake to their smiles and support. Instead, the heart monitor flat-lined. The doctors and nurses responded to the code blue to resuscitate him, but after all of their efforts, his heart stopped, and there was nothing else they could do. He left this world loved.
The Williams and Yesenia were crushed and devastated by the loss of Stewart. Yesha, only two years old, was too young to fully understand. As Yesenia’s visits began to diminish, Janice and Gale knew that they needed to do something. They realized that Yesenia’s struggle was immense while simultaneously trying to raise Yesha alone. Yesenia was working to pay the mortgage and hospital bills, while juggling care of the home, coordinating babysitters for Yesha, and providing for the funeral and her family. Janice and Gale agreed to have Yesenia and Yesha move in to live with them. Luckily, they had already prepared several additional living areas.
Eliza’s parents went to great lengths to make sure Yesenia was comfortable, providing room and board, and even gifting her generously the wherewithal to take care of the bills and her daughter, Yesha. Yesenia and Yesha moved in with the Williams on Christmas Day of 1979.
In early January 1980, Janice found out she was almost two months pregnant, and the Williams’ first baby was on its way. In the face of tragedy, Yesenia reciprocated the Williams’ generosity and decided to help Janice throughout her pregnancy. She recommended they adopt a young puppy and she, in-turn, would ensure that it was properly trained before their baby came into the world. Yesenia helped them to prepare their home for their new family member. She felt this was the best way to reset her focus and apply her skills. While this was a tough time, everyone was supportive one to the other, and with no harsh feelings had by anyone about Stewart’s passing. They all loved each other, understood the difficulty they were experiencing, and missed him dearly. Later on, they discovered that Stewart’s family had a history of genetic disorders affecting the brain stem, resulting ultimately in strokes and death. At that time, apart from healthy routines, little was understood about preventative measures.
Yesenia appreciated having a place to live with friends, who understood, and who gave her the aid she needed while raising her own daughter, Yesha. Moral support among friends and family was something that came naturally to them but was likewise desired. Asking Yesenia to live with them was indeed one of the best decisions the Williams could have made given the circumstances they were facing at that time. Yesenia agreed that in the years to come she would complement the efforts of the teachers and the Williams and give the young girls lessons, help them with their studies, take them on outings, and even take care of the Williams’ new puppy.
Tyson was a Humane Society rescue dog, born in Georgia, adopted in Massachusetts. He had to have been just two or three weeks old when the animal rescue found him abandoned, bleeding from a broken stump of what was left of his tail. He was a Plott-Hound Boxer-Labrador mix, or a Boxador, with a lab face and a boxer build, as they described him it to keep it brief. He was bedazzled with black, white, brown, and rusty brindle markings, white paws, and beautifully tinted golden and brown flecked eyes.
With Yesenia’s admonition the Williams had adopted him as soon as they found out about him and that Eliza was well on her way. Her doctors had shown their parents that t
hey would be having a girl. She was healthy. Tyson naturally had a timid and calm yet curious demeanor, and as a natural companion, he dearly loved his new and very affectionate family. Through the loving and caring treatment of Yesenia, and later on through Eliza and Yesha in the years to come, he would be well-trained, and within the first few days he enjoyed being a part of their family and living in their home.
As he grew over the weeks, he especially enjoyed playing catch, being petted, being given treats, going on walks, or curling up in a little ball as he slept beside anyone in his new pack. The carpets were much better than the jagged terrain he had been used to during his first couple of weeks of life, and life was less painful than he recalled from before as well. He was a fine addition to the magnificent Williams and Alevtina family, and most especially within their delightful home, with soft carpets and non-jagged wood floors, living near the quaint town’s boundaries, at that time—with walks allowing him to seek his bliss not too far from a dog park or a beach.
Less than a month after he came home with the Williams, Tyson learned how to go poddy outside and along the acreage perimeter. Smelling the flowers brought him bliss, and he’d make sure the little rabbits only ate the weeds if he could help it. Training him to not go to the restroom inside the house or on the walkways outside had involved creating a small zone in the house for him for a few hours with toys to play with, water to drink, and food to eat. If he did well, he was rewarded with a hug and a treat that was good for his coat and taken outside where he could relieve himself. Once finished, he would receive more rewards in the form of affection, petting, intermingled with more treats and plenty of love. He was trained in each location throughout the house until he was thoroughly domesticated and well-disciplined. He also learned how to sit, stand, lie down, and stop barking on command followed by rewards for good behavior from Yesenia.
Further than Before- Pathway to the Stars Page 12