Author Archives: jollenl

Oh, I was looking for Julia,” the elderly blonde lady announced, clearly scanning the crowd for a woman. And poof—there I was. “Sorry, that’s why I didn’t respond immediately.” “No worries,” I said, “happens all the time. Nobody here knows how to pronounce my name anyway. That’s why I just go by ‘Joe’ when IContinue reading “New Jersey”

The moment I step into Demetria’s Uber, I know I’m in for a ride—not just physically, but spiritually, emotionally, and maybe even philosophically. She is a well-developed Southern black lady, draped in confidence and wrapped in a large wig that extended to big curls that waved up and down while she laughed. Her lashes extendContinue reading “Atlanta snow”

Meet Venkat, an Uber driver with a knack for smooth rides and even smoother conversation. He’s been in the business for a couple of years now, chauffeuring people around Kansas City while probably questioning their navigation skills. Originally from the Indian countryside near Hyderabad, he moved to the U.S. with his wife eight years ago,Continue reading “Venkat the Uber Driver: A Ride Through India, Spices, and Cricket”

On my noble quest to see every major Egyptian collection in the world, the Rosicrucian Museum in San Jose was a must-visit. Now, the museum itself is tied to a somewhat quirky sect that’s into alchemy, but thankfully, the founder was also obsessed with ancient Egypt. Result? A surprisingly impressive collection of artifacts housed inContinue reading “San Jose, California”

Ah, Christmas in the Netherlands—where the festivities begin so early you wonder if Santa accidentally set his calendar to Dutch time. But wait, hold your eggnog, because Christmas here starts with another old white-bearded dude, not from the North Pole but… from Spain? Sí, mi amigo, you heard that right. Sinterklaas, a.k.a. Saint Nicholas, a.k.a.Continue reading “St Nic”