On the 22: September
I’m probably like most people: the first cycle of life I learned was my birthday. Lucky me, mine’s at the end of summer. Always the grand finale of pool party celebrations and épluchettes de blé d’ Inde in my native Québec. The very end of Leo season.
8 and 22, those are my numbers. They go together. And we go big!
<Related half-birthday story>.
Over the years and in my life, it’s become an integrated marker for the month. Sorta like the 15th and the last day are for paychecks. Or the 1st, for rent.
At work, it’s equivalent to a long-standing monthly health check routine. For my project and all my people. Including me!
I’m doing the work that lights me on fire more than ever before.
It’s a lot of love. Right here, right now.
And I’m going on 50. This is what I do on the 22. I journal for gratitude. But make it digital. Bonus: make it a goal!
—
HIGH MOMENT: J & J’s wedding in Tannersville, PA. At the top of a mountain, under a ski lift, in the most beautiful outside setting. The brief was “sexy formal”. I roomed with a common friend and classmate Kendra - we had built up so much hype. And every moment lived up to it. Wrangler top down to the American Candle Company as a side bonus to the whole adventure.
The wedding itself was an experience designed around intimacy. As an invitation to join collectively into one’s extended family. Expressed in the sharing of enriching rituals - expressed in words, songs and definitely dance. As a call for us to get to know each other today, and count on each other in the future, as a gift from this union. From how they let us into their most deepest words for each other - Joel’s vows y’all, to how they moved us from place to place, up and down a mountain to the revealing of a grandiose dance floor and setting fit for KINGS! Anecdotally reported as the largest there ever. Everything was orchestrated for deep connection and spark. Oh, your name is Kendra too? Meet Kendra! Or wait, you said you went to Howard? I live in Fairfax County. Call me! ☎️
Plus a DJ set curated to make you sweat, sourced directly from the audience. Add a photo booth with accessories galore in the mix.
We cut a rug. Ate the cake. And nailed the brief.
ANOTHER HIGH MOMENT: A finish milestone. It’s still Caroline-Trudeau.com, but this next version.
FAMILY: On full. We back to school and the Trudeau adults are about to travel together 🇨🇦.
Love-at Work: ENERGY 🙌🏼 INTENSITY 🙌🏼. In the treetops of Reston. And I’m wrangling the creativity flow with outside in help, finally! Ask me why I’ll never ever go back to an office full time
PEOPLE: Chemistry in all the -ships. Especially the boomerang-ships. Those I worked with before that are catching on to my situation-ship. + Time with friends in real life, at the Club and at Wolf Trap.
PLACES: I saw friends in VA Beach, beach house benefits. Some of my people are leaving for Lexington, VA. Those are friends with mountain benefits.
ROMANCE: I went on a date that officially made me a Cougar. Then a different guy started parking a Ferrari out my window - he’s shacking up with my downstairs neighbor. Also brave to park that around here overnight , but thank you. I see your Scuderia.
SURPRISING: The coins. And we picked the GP yesterday. 🇬🇧
NOT SURPRISING: I still look younger than I am. But it’s not as hard as it used to be.
LEARNING: Summer is too short for an internship.
I don’t know where I am going yet, and I can’t wait to figure out what writing about it here leads to.