The Roaming Minds

          In January 2018, two days before my wife turned 44, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Our world went upside down. She was halfway done with her doctorate in nursing, and I had just completed my first semester of doctoral studies in educational leadership. It was the most devastating news and the most challenging reality that confronted us. However, through God's grace, we gained wisdom, peace, and courage to deal with the affliction brought by cancer. We decided to seek treatment (i.e., surgery, chemotherapy), continued pursuing our dreams, and learned to commit everything to Him. In May of 2020, she graduated with the degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice. She is now a  nurse practitione r  providing primary care to vulnerable populations in an underserved community in  New York City . I call her the wounded healer based on Henri Nouwen's description of a servant in his book of the same title. The day after surgery to remove h...

The state name Vermont comes from two French words vert (green) and mont (mountain). That explains why it was nicknamed the "Green Mountain State." Three-quarters of the state is covered with forests and it has the most vibrant maple trees in the U.S. The forests during summer and spring are green, but they transform into magnificent arrays of vibrant colors in autumn. One day the last week of September 2021, I received a text message from my daughter, Graecia, who is in her 2nd year at the University of Vermont. The message was, "Hey guys, I miss you so much. Can you please come up here?" When you receive such a request from your independent-minded daughter, you have to act swiftly before she changes her mind. Fast forward, we traveled to MD-NY-VT to grant her wish.  Here are some of the outdoor pictures we captured during the short time we're together.   Two tips if you're planning to see the Vermont foliage during autumn. Book your accommodation and trans...

          I am frequently asked by friends, "So, what does your wife do?" after sharing with them that she works in New York City . First of all, I tell them that she is a nurse, but this time an advanced practice nurse who is more empowered and independent than those with an associate or bachelor's degree. Next, I inform them that she is a family nurse practitioner, which often times I receive the follow-up question, "What is that?"           The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected nurse practitioners (NP) as the fourth leading percentage change of employment between 2020-2030. Their job has become a crucial  solution  to addressing the primary care crisis in the U.S. What does a primary care NP do? My wife is a private-type person, but I was able to convince her to share her experiences. Update:  In January 2022, the U.S. News and World Report listed NP as the 2nd best job for 2022.     ...

The  Central Park  in New York City (NYC) is the most visited park in the world, with more than 37 million visitors each year. It is also the third  most visited  tourist attraction globally after Las Vegas Strip (Nevada, USA) and Times Square, also in NYC. When there are tourists, there is money. Here are the different ways ordinary people take advantage of the crowd to make money in this famous tourist destination using creativity and enticement. 1. The  crowd-pleaser . A group of friends perform and amuse the audience through their comedies and interactions. Probably the most crowd-drawer, they ask for donations from the people and announce the amount they give.  2. The  food vendor . They sell almost everything from different foods to drinks and desserts! The one in the picture is located near the crowd. You can also find food truck vendors right outside the park, usually at the entrances and exits.  3. The  horse-carriage driver . With r...

I was in my fourth month as a newly-married man in 2001 when one night in the Philippines, I learned in a CNN breaking news that the Twin Towers in New York City collapsed due to terrorist attacks. The September 11 tragedy impacted the U.S. and the world on immigration and the war on terrorism and brought many enduring legacies. While  the internet is ubiquitous with horrible images depicting the turn of events at Ground Zero during 9/11,   many of today's generations are unaware of what happened. Today, on the 20th anniversary of the bombings, we had the opportunity to revisit the historic site and commemorate the lives of those who perished.   The Oculus: The transportation and shopping hub near the 911 Memorial. People visiting the Memorial emerge from this magnificent architecture. The entrance to the 911 Memorial grounds (left). The crowd flock to the pools (right). The 9/11 Memorial and Museum estimates a daily average of 9,000 visitors from all 50 states and 1...