The Roaming Minds

    In a small town, a  waitress works in a diner who is also brilliant at making delectable desserts. Unfortunately, she is in an abusive marriage and is pregnant with her husband. To make things more complicated, she falls in love with the local married doctor, who feels the same way for her. How did the waitress handle her troubles?      My daughter and wife watched the musical  Waitress  in the Barrymore Theater in New York City the night before Thanksgiving 2021. In a very casual and quick interview with my daughter, I asked how's the show. Below are some of our conversations. Spoil alert:  If you plan to watch the show, you may not want to read this blog as it will reveal some of the scenes. What type of domestic abuse was seen in the musical? Graecia: There was verbal abuse and gaslighting because the husband (Earl) tried to distort the reality and manipulated Jenna (waitress), brainwashing her that she could not live without him. Earl...

A train approaching the platform              Since eight months ago, my family has been riding the Amtrak when traveling between Maryland and New York City (NYC). Whether my wife travels back home from NYC or I (sometimes with my son) visit her in the city, I make all the reservations for the tickets. Many factors affect ticket prices, such as the day and time of the week, holidays, your itinerary, and when you buy it. However, here are the four money-saving tips I learned when purchasing tickets. Disclaimer: The prices you see in this blog are estimates only. Check Amtrak's website for accurate pricing. A nice view outside and comfortable seats  Buy your ticket online.          Never purchase a ticket at the train station unless it is an emergency or a necessary last-minute modification of your trip. Buying a ticket at the station will cost you more than 500% of the price bought online. For example, a one-way tick...

In December 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, my family adopted a cat from the local animal shelter. We named her Lilith. She was a one-year-old, short hair, feral-black cat.  One big difference she brings to my family is her ability to break negative vibes in the house. For example, if I am bored, she will invite me to play with her. She will look at me with wide eyes and then run under the couch as if she's saying, "Come, please play with me." When my mother-in-law feels lonely, Lilith will accompany her in her bedroom all day. She can somewhat sense her loneliness because Lilith would jump into my in-law's bed only to be stroked. When my wife is exhausted after a day's work  and then travels from New York City to Maryland on Friday evenings, Lilith makes her feel better by licking, stretching, and rubbing her body against my wife's legs upon her arrival. That's one of the eleven reasons you need a cat. A cat can dissipate negative vibes and turn them ...

          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...