LazyDawg

The old song goes, “You must have been a beautiful baby…” They must have had a premonition of Monique! It’s her birthday today (August 23) and we celebrate the beautiful person she’s become…

Twenty-nine years ago (plus or minus a few years), Monique Blanche Breault took her first breath in what would become a beautiful and interesting life. She was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, in a small French Canadian community called Bonnie Doon. Her folks say she was a very agreeable baby, always well behaved and well adjusted. She wasn’t terribly fussy and was very curious about stuff.

As a young child, Monique was drawn to books, and read everything she could get her hands on. Monique learned to read, write and speak in French and English (and later Japanese), though French is her native - and favorite - language. She was a what you would call a “bookworm”; she learned her social skills from her sister, Nicole, a few years later.

Monique got her stunning looks from her mother, Bernadette (okay, there’s some Henri in there too). She got her love of the outdoors, hiking and camping from Henri. And from both of them she received a strong sense of family, responsibility and caring for others. There was always a community that Monique could draw on, and she had her sister, their cousins and friends, to play with and hang out with. It was a fun time with summers travelling across Canada or to the U.S., and winters at the “Cabane à Sucre” or in the English, the “Sugar Shack” - no, not a strip joint, but a maple syrup house.

High school found Monique travelling to Japan on a student exchange program through the local Lion’s Club after her senior year (in Canada, they call that “grade 12″). It was in Japan that Monique fell in love with all things Asian and she started her love affair with Japan.

She began her college studies at the University of Alberta, and finished her last year at the University of Hokkaido, Japan. It was during this time that Monique really discovered life, as living away from the familiarity of home (and in a foreign country to boot) made her adapt to and learn to be part of a completely different culture.

As luck would have it, Monique landed a job with Procter and Gamble Japan, and ended up spending 7 years living and working in overseas. She honed her training and organization development skills there, became part of a community of natives and foreigners and transformed into a truly diverse person.

Monique returned to North America, got married, got divorced, and luckily for me, got a job at Hewlett-Packard. That’s because I work at Hewlett Packard too, and was going through a similar cycle, except for the moving back to North America part. And the rest, as they say, is history. We met in HP Choir, fell in love, moved in together in Cupertino, moved to Roseville, CA, got married, then moved to Portland, OR. In that order.

These days Monique enjoys working for HP (from home, big bonus), visiting her friends, re-learning her Chopin, Debussy and Satie (and a Pat Metheny song I like), travelling, bicycling and cooking/eating. Monique is quite the foodie, and her time in Japan taught her how to cook Thai, Indian, Japanese and Chinese cuisine. Good thing we both work out every day!

Monique’s grown up a lot in her thirty-something years; physically, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually - in all the ways any one could hope for. She has always stayed true to herself and her values, even when the chips are down. Along the way, she’s made a lot of people very happy, especially me!

Yes, you must have been a beautiful baby…because you grew up to be an even more beautiful woman! Happy birthday, Monique! I love you very much!

Monique at the Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, Alberta, Canada

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