Well...Actually

An introductory note and welcome

Do you remember what you were like as a child? I was most certainly a “Well…Actually” kid.  

Here she is in all her kiddo glory with a penchant for sequins and sass.

A “Well…Actually” kid can come in all shapes and sizes, and I happened to be a healthy combination of precocious, highly verbal, and a little anxious. I was the kid/teen/young adult that had Opinions I Think Everyone Should Know™ no matter the context and no matter the topic.

In other words, my childhood astrology would look something like this: Saved By The Bell’s Jessie Spano sun, Roald Dahl’s Mathilda rising, and Little Miss Sunshine’s Olive moon. Harry Potter’s BFF Hermione was somewhere in my chart, probably Mars. I digress…

Imagine the version of my childhood self who couldn’t possibly know that one day she’d be a lawyer and PAID for her opinions—what a dream!¹ “WELLLLLLL, actuallyyyyyyy, Jason…this is why that joke was misogynist and also simply not that funny…” turning into “Well, Actually, we can’t agree to xyz provision because my client…”.

In all honesty, all law school did was expose me to a world of other “Well…Actually” kids turned aspiring professionals. That comparison unlocked a lovely realization—that I didn’t need to be the smartest in the room, the most put together, or even the most vocal. Further into my 20s, with law school as a springboard, my “Well…Actually” nature morphed into a beautifully relentless curiosity and an embrace of my unique perspective (with a sprinkle of bossiness—eldest daughter energy is hard to shake). My thirst for new experiences and meeting interesting people from all over the globe was, I realize now, heightened and magnified because of the people with whom I surrounded myself.

Law school was a pressure cooker, and I came out, rather paradoxically, feeling like I knew less than I did before I entered those hallowed halls three years prior and utterly exhilarated in the wide open future that lay before me. I was thirsty for exploration about what I didn’t know, what I felt passionately about, and how the former could lead to the latter. I still have that thirst, which ultimately lead me here to this missive I write to you today.

I’ve titled and framed this space as “Well…Actually” to embrace the know-it-all-kid-turned-opinionated-woman, rich in emotions and interests, who’s still asking the questions and fueled with the same insatiable curiosity (oh hi there, Gemini Sun). I have my own curated definition of cultured (and argue that you should too!), and I am excited to deep dive that culture curation, i.e., my perspective on the things that interest me. This pursuit means that sometimes I’ll swim in the grey with hard topics, other times I’ll explore the nuance, niche or obscure, and all the time I’ll be twirling in the technicolor and referencing Taylor Swift lyrics ad nauseum (we were in screaming color).

Well…Actually is a space where I will explore a smorgasbord of topics via personal essay—literature, feminism, art, fashion, music, food, travel, and pop culture. As inspired, I may even explore poetry, flash fiction, and memoir. This description is intentionally vague!  I’ll build the plane (the thesis) while flying it, because, well…actually, it’s more fun that way.

I hope you come along for the ride. If this sounds like a place that interests you (it will be fun, I promise!), please hit “subscribe” and share with a friend. Thank you for being here.

xo, Cassie

1. Legal Disclaimer: (you knew this was coming!) there will be no legal opinions, advice, or counsel given in this space, because WELL…ACTUALLY… despite being on par with Elle Woods (“I'm comfortable using legal jargon in everyday life”), the whole purpose behind this newsletter is to explore the creative crevices of my brain that said legal jargon hasn’t inhabited. You won’t find a single whereas or heretofor here (unless I’m feeling a bit cheeky).