Travelogue: Day trips from Queens- Storm King, Briermere Farms, Harbes Orchard, Branch Brook Park, Untermyer Grardens, Wave Hill, Sleepy Hollow, Lavender by the Bay

 

 

Have car, will travel. A quick day trip away from the skyscrapers and the busy sidewalks is a vacation in itself. It is an intentional getaway to recharge your batteries. I would not dare call it a digital detox because I use my phone to capture beautiful scenery. Maybe, when there is time for a longer staycation by the beach with no tight itinerary, that would be great. In the meantime, these day trips feed my heart and soul.

 

Storm King Art Center, Orange County, New York

Oct. 28, 2024, 1h 19m from Queens

The vibrant autumn colors at the Storm King Art Center are a perfect backdrop for large-scale contemporary outdoor sculptures as they rise majestically up into the sky, dwarfing all the humans. It is absolutely worth the trip.

This past Saturday, throngs of people descended on this 500-acre open-air museum in New York's Hudson Valley, home to the largest collection of contemporary outdoor sculptures in the United States by renowned artists like Maya Lin, Alexander Calder, and Mark di Suvero. It was peak season for the Autumn leaves to reign supreme. The tram ride takes you to all different stops where you can hop on and off to explore and hike the trails.

Some of the sculptures are difficult to discern, so you can create stories about these different works of art in bronze, metal, and aluminum. My imagination ran away with my interpretation of the sculpture: I saw intussusception, a dog, a Trojan horse, an elephant, R2D2, and Squiggles. No disrespect intended.

The "Luba" by Ursula von Rydingsvard resembles a petrified tree. This is a cedar-wood sculpture with cast bronze and graphite. Interesting fact: my son knows her late husband, to whom this sculpture is dedicated.

My favorite is "Fallen Sky," an artful rendition of spherical stainless steel pieces embedded in the earth, nestled in a hole left by an uprooted tree. 

The five Ionic stone pillars (salvaged from an old mansion along the Hudson River) stood like a vanguard on the crest of the hill, where you could see the vast display of sculptures. It's my second time seeing these pillars, but they continue to mesmerize me as I imagine myself as a queen greeting my loyal subjects. Yeah, I know, delusions of grandeur. And my self-mandated foliage pictures, ✔️ checked. 

 

 

Briermere Farm and Harbes Orchard in Long Island's North Fork area

Sept. 21, 2024- 1.5-hour drive from Queens

 

 

 

 

Day trip to Briermere Farm, Harbes Orchard, and Greenport in Long Island, New York. Our last summer hurrah before Autumn comes. Briermere Farm is a fruit farm and bakery with a long line of people lured by the sweet aroma of cookies, bread, and pies (fresh blueberry cream, raspberry peach, and cherry cream). You will gain weight just inhaling the aroma of the baked goods. The farm also had a colorful display of sunflowers and exotic flowers (I don't know their names) that beckoned me.

Then, just a few minutes away is the Harbes Orchard, a pleasant, family-friendly farm with your pick of apples: Fuji, honey crisps, Gala, and Granny Smiths.  The farm also offers pumpkin picking and Robin Hood–themed corn maze, kids’ activities, and live music from 12–5 on weekends and holidays. There was open seating and live music, with apple-cider doughnuts.

We also explored Greenport, a waterfront community in Suffolk County on the North Fork of Long Island. The New York Times labeled the village as a low-key alternative to the Hamptons. Nothing was low-key this weekend, with the tourists enjoying the street fairs, live music, and the yachts and boats at the marina. We later learned that there was a Maritime festival and parade, and that explained the men and women dressed as pirates and mermaids. It was a fun time.

 

Branch Brook Park, New Jersey

April 7, 2024, 47-minute drive from Queens

 

Branch Brook Park in New Jersey is home to over 5,300 flowering cherry blossom trees in 18 varieties, more than Washington, D.C. It was the annual Cherry Blossoms Festival when we visited, and throngs of people descended to celebrate the rites of Spring with a breathtaking explosion of colors, from snow white to baby pink to vibrant pink.

Spring is my second favorite season. Nature is awakening after hibernating in winter. A rebirth, new beginnings. Flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping, the days are longer, and the nights are shorter.

As Charles Dickens said, "It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot, and the wind blows cold, when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade." And what better way to end the day than to go to Max's?

 

 

Untermyer Gardens Conservancy in Yonkers, Westchester County

Oct. 28, 2023,  1-hour drive from Queens

This time, we didn't have to travel far to see the Fall foliage. The Untermyer Gardens Conservancy in Yonkers, Westchester County, is a historic 43-acre public city park (free admission and parking) offering breathtaking views of the Hudson River and the Palisades.

Those with knee and hip problems should beware, but it was all worth the minor aches and pains if you want to do some gorgeous photo shoots. We saw a lot of pre-nups, pre-baby pictorials, and probably an occasional TikTokker. The Temple of Love, featuring a rock-and-stream garden and a small waterfall, evokes a fairy-tale setting.

The Vista is a must-see.  The descending staircase leads you down to the Overlook, where two majestic Roman marble columns frame the spectacular scenery. I will not pretend that I walked down those steps (hehehe). Jordan said it was really nice to walk down between the trees with just a glimpse of the columns, and then when he got to the bottom of the steps beyond the canopy of the trees, voila, the panorama was dramatically stunning (hence the name). Like unwrapping a gift.

The Walled Garden was closed due to a private event (darn), a Halloween event featuring people arriving in costumes. There was a pregnant lady, or was it just a fake belly hanging out like it was ready to burst?

We ended up at the Hapag Filipino Restaurant in Yonkers. No pineapple juice for me, but the food was yummy: Sinigang na pork, tortang talong with corned beef, Ukoy without shrimp, and yes, taho (silken tofu, sago or tapioca pearls, and a simple brown sugar syrup).

 

Wave Hill Public Garden and Cultural Center in the Bronx

May 29, 2023, 34-minute drive from Queens

Wonderful afternoon spent at the Wave Hill public garden and cultural center in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx. It is an oasis tucked away in the Hudson Hill section of Riverdale with a spectacular view of the Hudson River and the Palisades.

This 28-acre garden boasts a pergola overlooking the Hudson, surrounded by magnificent trees and flowers, creating a horticultural paradise featuring an alpine house, greenhouses, and a cultural center. If you’re a birdwatcher, there are 127 species of birds, including ruby-throated hummingbirds, great blue herons, and bald eagles.

This last-minute trip is such a revelation to me. I have lived here in New York since 1983, and yet I am still discovering some gems, a peaceful escape, in my own city.

 

Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown, New York

Oct. 23, 2022- 45-minute drive from Queens

We went for the Fall colors and the Hudson River, perfect ambiance for self-reflection.

Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown are adjacent villages in Westchester County along the eastern bank of the Hudson River.

Sleepy Hollow, formerly named North Tarrytown, officially changed its name in 1996 after Washington Irving’s classic 1820 story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. It is a charming town with a reputation for being spooky, especially during Halloween, for the Headless Horseman.

Tarrytown is the cultural hub, with local boutiques and children’s bookstores along Main Street. The Lyndhurst estate is a Gothic Revival house that serves as a filming location for The Gilded Age.

 

Lavender by the Bay, Calverton, Long Island

July 5, 2021, 1 hour and 15 minutes from Queens

Happiness is... celebrating nature's beauty amid fields of lavender blooms, with the clear blue sky above and the aromatic breeze calming heart and soul. The fragrance fills the air and cleanses my spirit. Lavender is calming, as scientific studies have shown that the natural compounds linalool and linalyl acetate interact directly with the nervous system to lower cortisol levels. No wonder these multi-purpose perennial lavender plants are widely used for aromatherapy. Doing my Ujjayi breathing in a field of lavender.

The best month to visit a lavender farm is July, with the massive French lavender fields at their vibrant peak.

I wanted to end the day at the Purple Yam restaurant, but it was closed for the holiday.  I had to settle for the purple Ube ice cream.

Travelogue: St. Croix Vacation, Life in the Left Lane

 

Travelogue- St. Croix vacation

Aug. 10-14, 2023.  Our family headed out to St. Croix, the largest of the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. A much-needed vacation. Self-care activity to recharge and rejuvenate.

Aug. 10, 2023, Day 1- 

Current temperature: 86 degrees Fahrenheit in St. Croix, an island in the Caribbean Sea, and a county and constituent district of the United States. Population: 41, 004, as per the 2020 US census. It is actually passport-free travel for American citizens. Known for its white sand beaches, historical landmarks, sorbet-colored buildings, and the surrounding reef to snorkel and scuba-dive (not that I have the courage to go in the water beyond 5 feet). During cruise ship stops, a flock of tourists descends onto the island. Thankfully, the island was less crowded when we came.

The people and even the chickens are friendly. Even met a young Filipina who is now part of the vibrant Pinoy community here. Dinner at "El Leon" was a great end to the day, especially the bone marrow and sweetened corn. Yummy.

 

August 11, 2023, Day 2. 

The Shake and Bake Day, aboard the speedboat Adventure to Buck Island, a 20-minute ride from St. Croix. Fortunately, I did not get motion sickness even though the waves rocked our boat. Must be due to the cool sea breeze or the soothing yacht-rock music of Jimmy Buffett and "Kokomo". Unfortunately, my sister and I both were not bold enough to go underwater to snorkel, not when we could not touch the bottom. As usual, Jordan had a great time snorkeling in the Caribbean Sea. I was brave enough to go ziplining and let a snake wrap around my neck on previous vacations, but not to snorkel or scuba-dive.  Ingesting seawater is a deterrent for me. 

But island life is good for the soul. Time stands still when you're basking in the Caribbean sun, not even worrying that my skin would turn crispy brown. 

Great Cruzan food and friendly locals (and those ubiquitous chickens). I just hope that the sweating walking around would balance out my weight gain from the rich Cruzan food. Lunch at "Cruzian Bayou" and dinner at "Rum Runners". No fast food restaurants here, thank God. There are different spellings of the local food: Cruzan, Crucian, Cruzian, whatever, still yummy.

                                         

                                                                                             

August 12, 2023, Day 3. 

Just a lazy day spent in almost-paradise. Started with a hearty breakfast at "Toast" with my Crucian breakfast of Creole stewed saltfish, runny eggs, wilted spinach, plantains, and arepa. A stop at a quaint art gallery with a loquacious owner who name-dropped about celebrities who frequented the shop. Then, a ferry boat ride to another island at the Hotel on the Cay. The boat operator is a Fil-Am who stayed in St. Croix after a vacation years ago and never returned to the States; he now owns several properties on the island. 

The beach is just what a nurse ordered: warm turquoise waters with hardly a wave to topple us over, clean Caribbean air, and some clouds as respite from the hot sun. We're celebrating the good times as the DJ blasts 70s-80s music; the hamburgers taste even better as we sway to Prince's music, with an iguana roaming under our table, probably waiting to be fed. My sister Bheng finally lost it when John Travolta sang "Grease". This is just a relaxing day in the water until our palms shrivel and our skin tingles from the sun's heat. Dinner at "Hamilton", with its elegant decor and expensive dishes. Gastos ng bakasyon.

August 13, 2023, Day 4. 

Life in the Left Lane. In St. Croix, you have to drive on the left lane even though the steering wheel is on the left. It is one of the idiosyncrasies in this island paradise, which has been described in a book by an expatriate journalist (Emy Thomas) who fell in love with the Virgin Islands. 

Life here in the islands is much slower: no rushing from one appointment to another, no bumper-to-bumper traffic, and most importantly, no cold winters. When you have hustled through life worrying about managing time, it is such a gift to take your sweet time to just enjoy the moment. 

Dinner at the "Parrot Fish" with mango guava chicken and steamed red snapper. Last night in this tropical paradise.

 

 

August 14, 2023, Day 5. 

Saying goodbye to St. Croix. Breakfast at the "Twin City" and the best ever Cinnamon scone with the yummiest crust. Back to work tomorrow, back to the hustle and bustle of the city. There was not enough time to explore the rest of the island. Did not have the time (or inclination and stamina) to go on the hiking trails, but I would have loved to see the wild pigs bite the beer cans. 

Funny how our cab driver said that when he goes on vacation to New York, he enjoys sitting at Grand Central Station the most, watching people rush around; NYC is such a vibrant and exciting city. New Yorkers, like me (and at my age), prefer to lie down at the beach and watch the clouds go by. Different perspectives.

I Like... Part 2

 

Retirement

I like any day when I don’t have to go to work, especially on a snowy day. Retirement is such a blessing, a gift that I should have accepted two years ago.

 

 

BTS is back

I like that I will be seeing BTS, all 7 members, in August in New Jersey. Floor tickets secured, wowza!!! The BTS supergroup will release their new album on March 20th and hold free concerts in South Korea before embarking on a global tour across North America, South America, Australia, and Asia, including the Philippines.

 

"I Will Come to You"

I like “I Will Come to You” by Jin of BTS on piano. It is a poignant ballad sung by Jin with gentle and yearning emotion. He wrote it while he was on military duty. He came back and fulfilled his promise to the BTS Army after his military discharge.

Travel and Quiet Moments

 I like to travel (but I hate the long plane hours). I love to write about my travels because I can share the little joys I find along the way, the food I get to experience, the sights that proclaim the beauty of the world we live in, and the people who make the places unforgettable.

In 2025, I vacationed in the Philippines and finally visited the beautiful island of Coron in Palawan; took a road trip to Connecticut and Rhode Island; and attended the 45^th college reunion in Europe.

But it is the quiet moments I love most, those times of introspection in between the hectic schedules of trips and sightseeing. In Norway, I sat at a corner table in the square, enjoying my chocolate ice-cream cone, and watched people go by. My classmates had walked ahead to the palace, but I was content (and tired of walking on the cobblestones) and actually thought, “I could live here.” I like the sunrise view from our cruise ship’s balcony; aquiet prelude to the group tours that follow after we dock. As we explored the magnificent Schwerin Castle grounds, the “tunnel of greens” mesmerized me; it felt spiritual as I walked towards the light at the end of the tunnel. In Coron, I went up the rooftop terrace of our Airbnb house, at the crack of dawn, to marvel at the glorious sunrise as my family slept after a full day of island-hopping.

The quiet moments are my precious “me” time, when I slow down, focus on myself, and recharge my batteries during a vacation marked by constant movement and a packed itinerary to hit all the tourist traps.

 

 

Painting 

I like that I started my painting journey right after retirement.

I am continuing and exploring my artist journey. I dabbled in pencil drawing before, but painting intimidates me. I am a total amateur, but I am determined to grow in my craft. I am playing with colors, brushes, and techniques as I switch between abstracts, patterns, and graphics using acrylic paints, markers, pastels, pencils,

I like that my art supplies are ready for me to use. I have a corner of the dining table for laying out my acrylic paints and markers, sketchbooks, watercolors, pastels, etc.

 

 

"Walk for Peace"

I like the Buddhist monks’ “Walk for Peace”. They started their travel in Fort Worth, Texas, and arrived in Washington, DC, on February 10. They aim to raise "awareness of peace, loving kindness, and compassion across America and the world." Amid the ongoing turmoil in the country, it is heartwarming to see crowds gather along the monks’ route to support and welcome them and their dog, Aloka. I see the Walk as a nonpartisan, nonreligious unifying force that has resonated with people from different races and faiths. According to their spokesman. "It's a spiritual offering, an invitation to live peace through everyday actions, mindful steps and open hearts”.

Ten states, 108 days, and 2300 miles later. I still cry when I see the pictures.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2042326629965078

 

Yummy

I like Ube ice cream with hot pandesal and Pineapple Upside Down cake. I don’t usually eat desserts, but these two tempt me every single time.

 

 

Pinoy Nurses in "The Pitt"

I like that the HBO Max medical drama “The Pitt” features two Filipino nurses, Perlah  (Amielynn Abellera) and Princess (Kristin Villanueva), as part of their ER team. Not just background players, but crucial to the emergency department team and highly respected for their expertise in the crazy, hectic world of emergency medicine. They provide comic relief when they speak Tagalog to each other, perhaps a coping mechanism to the work stressors. There is something therapeutic about bantering in your language, and sometimes communicating just with your eyes (and pointing with your lips).

After 15 seasons of “ER” without Filipino nurses, we see these bad-ass nurses and work besties claim their right to be seen as part of the team. As an ER nurse for 35 years, I felt represented. Finally.

 

 

 

K-drama

I like K-drama. Over the years, I have watched sporadically because of time constraints. After retirement, I am enjoying the time to watch as many as I can. I am currently juggling between several shows: Suspicious Partner, Crash Course in Romance, Can This Love Be Translated, Cashero, and Welcome to Samdari. Hey, I am picking up more Korean words as I go along.

 

 

 

 

I Like… (Part 1)

https://jcerrudocreations.blogspot.com/2016/06/i-like.html

 

 

 

Favorite Instrumental Music

 

Music is powerful, even if the lyrics are not in English. Music stimulates our brain’s emotional and reward centers by releasing the “feel good chemicals”, dopamine and serotonin.  It transcends language, whether they’re in French, Korean, Tagalog, or Spanish. I never thought I would appreciate rap music until the trio of RM, Suga, and J-Hope of BTS opened my mind to the beauty of music I wouldn't usually listen to. I don’t let my ignorance of the language affect my appreciation of the music.

Sitting in an opera, the audience is held spellbound, even if they do not know the traditional Italian, German, or French lyrics. You can read surtitles (subtitles projected above the stage) or read the libretto with the translated text beforehand. But when the melodies resonate with you and touch you, it is beautiful no matter what.

 INSTRUMENTALS

What is your favorite instrumental music> Classical or contemporary? The Beautiful Blue Danube, Ballade Pour Adeline, La Vie en Rose, or the joyful Filipino song called Katakataka?

Instrumental music lacks the advantage of on-screen surtitles in opera or the lyrics in a musical video, but it pulls our heartstrings as we recall forgotten memories. The unspoken touches us profoundly, as we close our eyes and let the music wash over us. The melody brings out powerful emotions that resonate with us and can bring tears to our eyes.

I wrote about the Stendhal Syndrome, also known as Florence Syndrome or hyperkulturemia, in a previous post. It is an emotional response to music and art that triggers a physiological response that activates the parasympathetic nervous system.

https://jcerrudocreations.blogspot.com/2024/10/stendhal-syndrome-why-songs-make-us.html

 

These are my favorite instrumentals: 

DREAMS

Diana Newell, an 87-year-old Royal Air Force (RAF) veteran, never gave up on her dreams. Diana participated in Season 3 of the musical program “The Piano” to find the best amateur pianists in the United Kingdom. She performed her own composition, written after the death of Phil, her beloved husband of 63 years. Jon Baptiste, a Grammy-winning artist, was impressed by Diana’s performance and labelled her “the Queen of England”.

“This piece was born out of loss and grief,” Diana said. “From a young age, I dreamt of being a concert pianist. And it has taken all of my 87 years to finally realise that dream. So my message is to never give up on your dreams.”

 

 

ELEGY FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE TSUNAMI OF MARCH 11, 2011

Nobuyuki Tsujii is an acclaimed Japanese pianist and composer who has been blind since birth due to microphthalmia. In 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake triggered a tsunami killing 18,500 people. That same year, Nobuyuki performed his own composition to honor them.

Tsujii was visibly overwhelmed with emotion and burst into tears while playing this piece, noted as a landmark performance of his career. The music was haunting and poignantly beautiful.

The accolades for him from other great musicians and music critics say everything:

 "Very seldom do I close my notebook and just give myself over to it, and he made that necessary. I didn't want to be interrupted in what I was hearing.”- Richard Dyer

“His playing goes straight to the heart, propelled by his phenomenal technique and the uncanny richness of sound he draws from the piano."- Clemens Trautmann

“For him to play the Chopin concerto with such sweetness, gentleness, and sincerity -- it's deeply touching. I had to keep from crying when I left the room."- Menahem Pressler

 

BALLADE POUR ADELINE

I discovered Richard Clayderman’s music among my father’s collection of vinyl records and cassette tapes when I was at college. Tatay was always playing Charlie Rich and Engelbert Humperdinck, so I “borrowed” Richard Clayderman’s tape and considered it my own property.

Clayderman, born Philippe Pagès in France, often partnered with Olivier Toussaint & Paul de Senneville and enjoyed an outstanding international career as a pianist. It all started when he recorded the gentle piano ballad that De Senneville composed for his baby daughter, Adeline.

There had been many versions of the popular ballad, but it has been his version that I always come back to, as well as his performance of Comme Amour, Souvenirs D’Enfance, and “Mariage D'Amour”.

 

 

LA VIE EN ROSE

 Édith Piaf’s signature song, "La vie en rose," is my favorite French song. Piaf herself wrote the lyrics, and the music was composed by Louis Guglielmi (also known as Louieguy). The song was popular in the late 1940s, translated as "life in pink" or "life through rose-colored glasses,", Piaf’s lyrics captured the hopeful, yet wistful mood of post-WWII France. The song inspired many international recordings, notably by Lou Armstrong and even achieved Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1998.

This guitar version by Guitar Baba (real name: Sebastian Andrade) is a charming recreation of the beautiful melody that I had on continuous loop. He provides simple guitar lessons on social media for novice learners.

 

 

CHERRY PINK AND APPLE BLOSSOM WHITE (Cerisier rose et pommier blanc)

This song was composed by Louis Guglielmi in 1950 and became famous in English as "Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)". It has been played in Latin style as a mambo, with saxophones and trombones.

Hauser is a Croatian cellist who imbues this performance with his signature sensual and romantic style. Oh, those smoky long-lashed eyes, the swagger, the sexy smile, the come-hither looks. Who can resist?

 

KATAKATAKA

Katakataka is a Tagalog folk song composed by Santiago Suarez, and performed above by Rondalistang Parañaque. It is a story of a budding romance between a boy and a girl, their playful teasing, until the romance finally became serious.

I included this on the list because the song never failed to make me smile, even though I remember how I was as a miserable rondalla player during my elementary days. I did not make the audition. As consolation, I was one of the dancers for our elementary school presentation.

 

EL CONDOR PASA

"El Cóndor Pasa" (Spanish for "The Condor Passes") is an orchestral musical composed by the Peruvian composer Daniel Alomía Robles in 1913. The song is based on traditional Andean folk music and is now considered Peru's second national anthem.

Leo Rojas, an Ecuadorian musician, performed on the pan flute (also known as panpipes or syrinx) on the fifth season of the German television show Das Supertalent, based on Britain's Got Talent, which he won.

 

HYMNE À L'AMOUR

Marguerite Monnot composed the melody, and Edith Piaf wrote the lyrics for her illicit love affair with a married man. Gautier Capuçon performed this song with the Eiffel Tower as the backdrop.

Celine Dion delivered a stunning tour de force performance of this song in the 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony in Paris, France.

 

THE BEAUTIFUL BLUE DANUBE

This classical music by Johann Strauss II was played beautifully by André Rieu & the aptly named Johann Strauss Orchestra. It was recorded live at the grand Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. 

The concert I attended in Elmont, New York, did not have the glittering Austrian skies; the venue was the UBS Arena with the NY Islanders banners in the rafters. Yet, the audience response is the same. As Andre predicted, the aisles were filled with dancing couples as soon as the iconic "The Beautiful Blue Danube" waltz played.

 

HISTORIA DE UN AMOR

Written by the  Panamanian songwriter Carlos Eleta Almarán, the song was translated in many languages and recorded by various artists around the world

David Bay performed this song while riding the gondola in Venice, Italy.

 

Joyful Videos to Make us Smile and Laugh

 

Have you ever sat before your computer screen, transfixed by the videos? You suddenly realize that your jaw is aching from grinning from ear to ear. Happiness and pure delight fill your heart, your stress forgotten, a transient but much-needed respite from the worries of this world.

The news is depressing nowadays. During these trying times, when people forget how to be humane and kind, and political strife reigns supreme, I need diversion and distraction. It may last only a few minutes or hours, but I gladly welcome any opportunity to de-stress.

Laughter is healing. A 2023 meta-analysis reported that a single session of watching joyful videos reduces the stress hormone cortisol and releases the feel-good chemicals endorphins. A La Loma University study found that laughing is healthy, as it “strengthens the immune system by increasing the production of antibodies and activating immune cells, making it an essential component of a healthy lifestyle.”

So, join me and let us laugh and smile together.

 

“You're the One that I Want” by Bobby Glorioso and Antwaan Taylor.                             Just two friends having fun at work. 

 

Victor Borge, comedian and pianist, the “Clown Prince of Denmark”. When life was simpler, the humor was cleaner, and no politician dictated your comedy routine.

Rowan Atkinson, the British comedian par excellence, is on another level. I will watch Mr. Bean anytime. Alas, he was never knighted, but he received the "Commander of the British Empire" award for his services to drama and charity.

TikToker @dfaguimba shares videos of himself dancing with random people on the street, coaxing them to release their inhibitions and dance with him, or simply giving them a hug. He uses the hashtag “Human is Human” in his videos.

Umaru Dante, also known as Ngobi Umaru, spreads smiles and happiness. He is a dance artist, choreographer, and entertainer from Kampala, Uganda. Who can resist his infectious smile?

 

 Ken Lee, remember that very familiar song? I love her conviction. Such chutzpah!

 

Kids being kids, enjoying life to the fullest, cute and carefree. May they keep their "joie de vivre" even in their adult lives.

Sometimes, children don't have filters, and they just surprise us with their honest revelations. To this day, we still don't know who or what the boy did to cause her ire. 

Mic drop!

Ellie and Emma

Kevin Bubolz realized the positive impact of dogs while deployed as a US Army helicopter pilot. He brings Ellie and Emma, two golden retrievers, to "spread smiles" in their visits as therapy dogs in schools, hospitals, and military bases.

 

 

 Baby laughing

Ed People (real name, Edouard Jaqmin) from Belgium asks strangers to dance with him. It would be fun to meet him on the street; I may be persuaded to bust a move, even if I have no rhythm.  Maybe I can teach him how to dance "Tinikling"? Oh no, that's too hard for my aching knees and hips. Maybe "Pandango sa Ilaw" or "Itik-itik"?

 

In 2014, the staff at Elmhurst Hospital filmed their version of Pharrell’s “Happy” song. So many familiar faces. I wish I were there.  

P.S. I am remiss for not mentioning the super-group BTS from South Korea. I am an ardent Army (name for BTS fans), and I have spent countless hours watching their versatile and entertaining discography, as well as their hilarious variety show videos- RUN BTS and RUN-Seokjin. I smile, I laugh, and for some precious hours, I forget that there's a world out there worth escaping from.