MY ASSISTANT CAROLINE

When I first met my assistant Caroline, my heart sank a little. I wasn’t expecting a living Skipper doll to walk through the doors of Greca that afternoon. She was beautiful, way too beautiful, and definitely not the edgy, punk rock, ethnically ambiguous cyberhacker I had pictured.

I already had two hot blondes working for me, and a third one made it look like I was running a sorority, not a business.

Then she started talking, and within minutes, I knew the interview was over. I had found my person.

Almost two years later, I love her even more. She is an incredible assistant, smart, stylish, polished, organized, motivated, and somehow always three steps ahead of me. She can often read my mind before I even have the thoughts.

But the real gift isn’t just how much she helps me. It is getting to know her. Watching a younger woman on the edge of her own greatness is something special. As a mom of boys, I don’t often get the chance to pour into someone like this. I see parts of myself in her, and parts of her she will only recognize when she is older, and hopefully still talking to me.

I never expected to have the privilege of such a close relationship with a younger woman in this lifetime. Women scare me. ESPECIALLY SCORPIOS! They make me overthink my words and, at times, feel self-conscious. I worry about their feelings and if I’m taking up too much space. I try to both anticipate their moods and react in ways that feel palatable. With Caroline, I’ve shown how utterly batshit I can be. I’ve been able to face some of my fears, and heal wounds I never knew existed. I am proud of her like I’m her mother, and protective like a big sister. I see myself dancing at her wedding, and I see her weeping uncontrollably at my funeral. Perhaps before either of those days, she will outgrow me. But for now, it feels like both a duty and a privilege to play a role in her story.

Last month, she made a list of things to know about me. In honor of her twenty-eighth birthday this Sunday, here is a list of things to know about her.