I had a work trip from October 8th to 10th in Edmonton. Leading up to it, everything felt very last minute. Although I can thrive in a fast-paced environment, I was still mentally exhausted from the situation with Blaine. The day before my flight, I was in the office preparing for the event. While nothing was major, I felt overwhelmed by the numerous small tasks I had to complete. That day, I had therapy, and during the session, I broke down, expressing that I was simply tired of life. I ended up messaging Blaine to see if he was available to talk, and I appreciate that he made time for me. Our conversation lifted my spirits a bit, but I still felt weary of life.

Nevertheless, I found myself flying to Edmonton with a heavy heart. I reached out to my childhood friend, Angela, to see if she wanted to join me, and she eagerly agreed to be my emotional support companion, hoping to lift my spirits. We also had our middle school friend, Steven, who resides in Edmonton, so we invited him to show us around and reconnect. With my event scheduled for the following day and having nearly wrapped up all the preparations, I figured a touch of adventure might do me good. He picked us up at our hotel and we went to a restaurant called Dorinku and had some good food. We shared a torched sushi and I got their popular carbonara udon.

I normally have a food curfew of 8pm but I was like what the heck. So we went for ice cream at Made by Marcus after. I got the mint grasshopper pie (which tasted like mint chocolate chip) and the apple cheddar pie. The flavours were really unique and I did enjoy it. Steven paid which was very nice of him.

Steven then showed us around Edmonton, giving us a mini tour. We strolled through the stunning grounds of the Alberta Legislature and made our way to a scenic viewpoint that offered breathtaking views of Edmonton’s skyline. Once at the top of the hill, we sat together, delving into a profound conversation about life. I don’t want to go into detail, but I’ve been grappling with the purpose of life. I’m doing my best, but it often feels hopeless, and I shared this sentiment with Steven (Angela is already aware). I’m very aware of the many people in my life who care about me, yet at times, their love feels distant and elusive. It’s challenging to articulate… Nevertheless, during our profound conversations, we were suddenly greeted by a stunning display of the northern lights. The experience felt surreal, stirring within me the thought: could it be a sign?

Then Steven was like “Fuck it, do you guys want to go to Elk Island to see more of this?”. I hesitated at first due to my work/event scheduled for the following day, yet I found myself embracing a “let’s be adventurous” mindset. So off we went! It was so windy, and I certainly hadn’t dressed appropriately for the weather. Nevertheless, we managed to witness a better view of the Northern Lights, and it was absolutely beautiful!

The next day, I had breakfast with my manager and shared the details of my night. Naturally, she was jealous that she hadn’t experienced the northern lights herself. We then began preparing for our event for the client. I won’t go into too much detail about the event, but it was a small conference meeting for the client’s customers. Afterward, the client had suite tickets for the Oilers vs. Jets home opener game. Since they had extra tickets, I invited Angela and Steven to join us as a thank you for the other night. Although the Oilers lost 6-0, I had a fantastic time because I was with my friends, and the event for my client went flawlessly.

Back to my adventurous mindset, I agreed to grab a drink with Angela and Steven after the game, despite not liking it. Stepping out of my comfort zone, I decided to visit an open karaoke bar with my friends. I had a blast singing a few lines of “Shallow” with Steven, but the real showstoppers were “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “You Belong With Me,” which had me belting out the lyrics with sheer joy and laughter! I really appreciated both of them for getting me to experience new things and getting me out of my comfort zone.

Overall, this business trip blossomed into one of my most treasured and unforgettable experiences, thanks to my wonderful friends and the stunning Northern Lights that twinkled across the sky like a vibrant tapestry of colors. The blend of professional growth during the day and meaningful connections at night truly elevated my journey, transforming it from a work trip into an extraordinary adventure brimming with joy, discovery, and lasting memories.