The other day, I went to the pharmacy to pick up some medication for my mom, and of course, I couldn’t help but peek. It was diazepam, a type of anxiety medication also used for seizures and muscle spasms. Now, I can tell you for a fact that my mom…
In 2017, we took a trip to Disneyland to celebrate my daughter’s fourth birthday. (Oh, how I miss Disneyland). While driving to our hotel, our stomachs grumbled, reminding us that we hadn’t eaten in hours. Couple that with our desire to “try out” an In-N-Out burger, we stopped by the…
Think about all the great moments of your life. Your first kiss. Your first car. Your first job. Your high school prom. Your college graduation. Your wedding day. Your firstborn. The list goes on. We all have those moments where everything seems to be going just right, where you think…
In my 20+ years of living in America, there is one question that I’ve been asked the most, which is, “Were you born here?” Here, the person gestures without gesturing, designates America, or specifically where I live, Oregon. I tell them, “No, I was born in Vietnam.” The person would…
September 1, 2021
This morning, I dropped my daughter off at school — her first day back after learning from home for the past year and a half. …
It’s a common occurrence — you send off an inquiry email, an application for a job or a contest, or pitch to a publication, only to get no response back. You wait…patiently, of course, for someone to recognize you and your fabulousness. And yet, no one does. …
Most mornings, I put on my workout clothes and lace up my running shoes to go for a run at the park down the street from my house. …
Like many millennials, my mom has become a plant parent.
Unlike many millennials, she does not have a YouTube channel or an Instagram account. My mom is a 73-year-old grandmother of seven who dotes on her potted plants with the grace and attentiveness of a new parent. She lives by…
The first time I went to Hawaii, I felt invincible. I was amongst some of the happiest people in the world, it seemed, and the happiness rubbed off on me. Perhaps it was the sun, or the palm trees, or the endless opportunities for fun; or it could’ve been the…
If you’ve ever been the new kid at school, or new in town, then you know the feeling. You don’t know anyone; the social interactions are awkward. You have to learn the local jargon, how people talk and behave with one another, and so many things that you don’t understand…
I write about the three F’s: food, family and finding your way through life. Based in Portland, OR. More at hoangsamuelson.com
