• Life Lessons

    Lessons from a Pie

    “My tummy hurts!” my little niece cried as she threw herself on the couch. “I wonder why you didn’t eat your dinner?” her mom asked, picking up the empty pie dish from the floor. “Turkey and veggies are not as good as dessert!” The adults in the room struggled to keep a straight face. “Honey, not everything we eat, or drink is good for us. Some foods make us strong, and some can make us weak or sick, especially if we eat too much of it!” She rubbed her tummy and dried her tears. “I know how she feels,” I said, holding my own stomach. “I know nobody wants to…

  • Life Lessons

    The Day My Thanksgiving Failed

    “Can’t we try new recipes this Thanksgiving please!” my daughter asked. “We always eat the same dishes.” “I know,” I said. “I have a bunch of new recipes that look delicious, but I end up cooking our family traditional ones. I guess it makes me feel closer to those that’re so far away. “Do you remember our first Thanksgiving in this town?” I asked. “Not really,” she said. “Just that we were all alone. What happened?” Well, this is the story of our first Thanksgiving here…                                                …

  • Lecciones de Vida

    El Dia que quise Desaparecer

    Nunca había visto cosa igual. La ciudad estaba totalmente cubierta por una capa blanca de nieve. “Por favor acompáñame,” me rogó mi esposo. “Esta es una decisión que tenemos que tomar los dos.” “Pero las noticias dicen que no hay que salir a la calle a menos que sea necesario y sabes cómo odio el frio!” respondí. “Y eso queda a una hora de Chicago en tren!” Era una de las muchas entrevistas que mi esposo tendría para entrar en un programa de residencia médica, el paso siguiente a graduarse de la escuela de medicina. Queríamos hacer la voluntad de Dios porque sabíamos que tendríamos que dejar nuestro país y…

  • Life Lessons

    The Day I wished I was Invisible

    I’d never seen such a thing. A thick white snowy blanket enveloped the city. The temperature was so low that Lake Michigan had frozen over and appeared to rise above the ground. “Please come with me,” he pleaded. “This is a decision we’re both making!” “But the news says people should not leave their homes unless it’s totally necessary and you know how much I hate the cold!” I responded. My husband had just graduated from medical school and training for a specialty was the next step, which also meant we had to move far away from our country and our families. The third of several interviews for medical residency…

  • Lecciones de Vida

    ¿Qué Canal estas Escuchando?

    “Apúrate que va a pegar un tornado en nuestro condado!” le grité a mi esposo por el teléfono. Los tornados, si bien comunes en nuestra nueva ciudad, son desconocidos en nuestro país de origen. “Y quien te dijo eso?” me preguntó. “Lo escuché en las noticias,” contesté. “¿Qué hago? ¿A dónde voy? ¡Esta casa no tiene sótano!” “Cálmate,” me respondió. “Estas escuchando el canal equivocado. ¡Es el mismo nombre, pero es un condado en otro estado!” Todo el temor, la ansiedad y la preocupación se desaparecieron como arte de magia. “No puedes creer cualquier cosa. La próxima vez asegúrate que estar escuchando el canal correcto,” agregó. Aprendí la lección rapidito.…