Summer 2022

After months of wishful thinking to see if I could make things happen, the door opened up to make things happen. summer of 2022 started with a wishful thinking of being able to right when the playing cards are opened — either extend to work longer or quit the job. It could have gone either way, but things started to open up when quitting a job was bound to happen. Of course, it wasn’t an easy decision, for stabilizing oneself was the mission and there were other uncomfortable factors that led things to go astray. However, I felt good, in the end, that I had to quit my job. It was more important to go this way than keep going when the environment wasn’t suitable.

First, the plan to go to Chicago came through, and this created opportunities to work there. I haven’t got a chance to visit the Windy City. It was a magical visit moment upon seeing the city and getting a chance to explore places outside of California. Then, a visit to Voyageurs National Park. It was a kickoff of visiting the U.S. National Parks. After being out of the scene for many years, it was the right place to jumpstart the summer.

A visit to Chicago city and staying in the northern suburb gave me a taste of the best side of Chicago. On July 4th while watching the parade, we saw helicopters hovering around and there was a shooting in the next town. That’s what America is nowadays, no matter where you are, it isn’t safe anymore.

A drive through the Midwest to get to Minnesota’s Voyageurs National Park. A glimpse of the Midwest countryside and of those huge storage barns. As we took the road to our lodging, pine trees became a common sight and could see