[Week 23] The bus rides to church.

All my 5 years in the U.S., I have always been a commuter, traveling from one place to another using public transportation. It is hard to wait for a ride when there’s storm, snow storm, when it’s too hot, or when it’s too cold. For a church-goer like me, it was specifically hard waiting for the bus just to hear the one-hour mass. But we do it. Sometimes, good Samaritan would offer us a ride and for those times we were thankful.

In 2013, we were blessed to get a car (for free). Oh, how we felt the difference of getting to church easily. No more numbing feet while waiting for the bus when it’s below zero outside or no more shoes drenched in water when it’s raining. We were grateful. Relieved. Although the car is old, it is serving its purpose bringing us from point A to point B conveniently. We do still take the bus and trains to work (in Manhattan) but Sunday is different because of the bus schedule.

Last Sunday, after a year of not taking the bus to church, we had to take the bus again. Again, oh, how we felt the difference. It was a good feeling having to feel the way we felt in those years that we were taking the bus to church every Sunday. It’s always good to look back, I say, and remember how it was to have a hard time then and realize how lucky we are to have easier commutes now even just on Sundays.

This Sunday, Sky, the car, is serving another master again but one of the doctors at the animal hospital that we work in would drop us off to church then we would just have to take the bus home.

It’s almost summer and the weather is good. With or without a car to drive, this kind of day is better.

 

Have a blessed weekend, everyone!

 

 

[Week 22] Grand Central Station and Connecticut.

 

It’s been a long time since the last time I took the train from Grand Central Station to Connecticut. I love taking the train. I had to work on Saturday while everyone else are setting up their grills at their home’s backyard, enjoying some barbecue of some sort. Well, I am grateful for longer and warmer days. I was able to catch up with the family in Norwalk. We had s’mores, too. And of course Videoke when the mosquitoes started biting us.

 

[Week 7] Transportation.

Amazingly, the past snowstorm is not too bad for me. I had even fun walking on the slushy flood on every curve (thanks to my pair of Muck boots).  And because the wind chill is not that bad, I was able to take some pictures of the bicycles that were stuck in the snow for more than 2 weeks already. I really wanted to take pictures of these. Although I think I forgot to set my Instax to the right setting, which is outdoors. I have to take note of that.

It was my first time to drive in the snow, too. Glad the car is 4WD, although I got a little scared when the rear wheels started sliding. But you know what gives me a real panic? Fogged up windshields and windows. I am a new driver, alright. I only drive around the town where I live (to church, to the grocery) and yes sometimes to Connecticut. I would never drive to work. I would still choose commuting when work is in Manhattan. Thanks to all the reliable public transportation in the city. Lately you can check where your bus is in NYC. Just go to bustime.mta.info and type in your bus number. That way, you don’t have to wait at the bus stop for a long time in the cold weather. I hope they keep the system up.

If you live in the snowy area, please be careful out there. But don’t forget to stop and look at the silver lining of this cold and gray season.