Hello friends!

First of all, I am so excited to have the chance to celebrate my birthday with you, and it means that world that you’ll be there to explore, eat, drink, and relax with me!

When I was 12 years old, I wrote a letter to myself called “LOFTY GOALS".” Included in it were:

  • Record an album (done!)

  • Graduate from college (done!)

  • Own an airplane (definitely NOT done…)

  • Make more than $100K / year (I clearly didn’t know how much an airplane cost),

  • Have an aquarium floor with live jellyfish in a tank below my feet (I don’t know where this came from)

Oh - and I REALLY wanted to celebrate a birthday in France.

So we’re doing it! We’re going to be celebrating the big 4-0 from August 14 - 16 at a chateau in Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or, just north of Lyon France… with some meeting me earlier that week in Paris and others staying later to do circus in Switzerland. Wherever you can join over the weekend, I am SO incredibly thankful to be able to hang out together and share some of the memories and moments we’ve been able to share over the years.

So check out the agenda for the weekend below, reach out if you have any questions at all, and - À très bientôt !!!

Love,

Russell

August 14 - Day in Lyon

On Friday, feel free to arrive at whatever time is convenient to join us in checking out the beautiful city of Lyon. Here, we’ll be able to enjoy one of France's most remarkable cities, and we’ll check out a museum or two and - weather permitting - enjoy a picnic dinner for the evening.

Think of Friday as a chance to reconnect, meet fellow guests, and ease into the weekend before the main celebration.

August 15 - Morning trip to the Rhone Valley

We’ll start the morning taking the train to the town of Tain-l’Hermitage, where we’ll explore the Valley of the Rhone and enjoy wine tasting and chocolate tasting over the afternoon. Dress is casual, as it may be warm and there

Chateau Day-drinking

Château Time - a relaxed afternoon at the château or at your lodging to unwind, enjoy the grounds, and spend time together. Feel free to bring your bathing suit for a quick dip in the pool! Dress is casual.

As the sun sets, we'll gather for an evening of music, dinner, conversation, and celebration. No speeches, and NO singing happy birthday! Just good food, great company, and an unforgettable night with lots of wine France. Dress is resort casual, with

August 16 - Relax and recover

Slow Morning & Farewells

Coffee, breakfast, lingering conversations, and goodbyes before everyone heads to their next adventure!

For those ready to do more athletic activities, I’ll be renting kayaks for the group to navigate and explore the river. We’ll finish the day with a quick jaunt over Lyon for a Brasserie dinner.