Soon · Week 34
By Luca Bonafede · August 23, 2026 ·
A lot can happen in a week.
We were having dinner at a popular restaurant in Trinity when the waiter stopped by our table. “Just so you know, we have to close thirty minutes early tonight. There will be fireworks by the water.” I asked him when. “Soon,” he said. I asked for the bill. We walked out the door, and boom, there they were. My Texan friend called my name, I turned around, and in that exact second she took one of my favourite photos of me ever. It wasn’t planned or posed. I was just there.
“Soon” might be the most honest word Life knows. It never gives you a schedule, only a feeling that something is about to happen, and the choice of whether you’ll be ready when it does. The best moments rarely announce themselves in advance. They arrive while you’re still waiting for the bill.
The week started in Bonavista with beautiful weather and some amazing drone footage. Then I went a bit further south to Trinity Bay, which I came into with zero expectations and left calling it one of my favourite corners of this island.
On the way back I took a wrong turn and passed through Clarenville one more time. I had just written that I would most likely never pass through it again, and Life clearly took that as a challenge. This time I knew it really was the last time.
Then I was back in St. John’s for the rest of the week, and this one hit differently. I got sick for the first time in a while. You already know me, so that didn’t stop the workouts, the work, or soaking up every bit of this city and the road behind me.
Speaking of being ready: at a party this week I caught someone mid-fall down a staircase. It was full instinct, zero hesitation, and thankfully a friend had the reflexes to snap a photo of the exact moment. That makes two perfectly timed photos in one week. You never know when a random girl will fly over your head, so be ready.
I also finally tried matcha for the first time. After being surrounded by matcha drinkers for what feels like forever, I caved and gave it a shot.
I spent some fun time with colleagues outside of work too. It wasn’t the first time and it won’t be the last. Something about this week gave me real Auckland 2013/2014 vibes.
This was also the week I finally sat down with my laptop and made the call. The countdown to my next location has officially started. I’m getting closer and closer to leaving St. John’s for good, and there’s a mix of excitement and nostalgia in that. I don’t ask Life to give me things. I ask Life, and then I go grab it myself.
And yes, there was some wildlife: puffins, and what I’m pretty sure was a Newfoundland fox of some sort. You already know I couldn’t care less about that kind of thing, so you’ll have to trust me on this one.
The song of the week is “Tell Me” by Modern Cult (2026), which I discovered a few months ago. It might not mean much to the usual reader, but if you know me in person and how intense I can be, you’ll understand why it fits so well.
The week also left me with one more reminder: party, bad weather, and lack of sleep make the perfect recipe for knocking yourself down. Discipline Becomes Identity, but health is the foundation it stands on, and that needs protecting too.
Looking back, the whole week kept saying the same thing. The fireworks came “soon.” The girl on the staircase came without warning. Even the countdown I started this week ends on a date I chose myself, and yet I know the day it arrives will still feel sudden. Life doesn’t wait for you to be ready. It simply happens, and you’re either there or you’re not. Being there means keeping your eyes open, your hands free, and your body strong enough to catch whatever falls. “Soon” is the only time Life ever promises, so make sure you’re ready when it comes.
A lot can happen in a week.
Thank you, and ciao for now.
Luca Bonafede
Bonavista, Trinity Bay, St.John's, NL, Canada 🇨🇦