Yikes! As a 60 year old woman currently helping to care for my mother with advanced dementia, her almost deaf, bereft husband and my gifted musician husband, your caretaker observation hit me like a bullet! Carrie Fisher said of her marriage to Paul Simon, 'Where there should be a flower and a gardener, we were two flowers' and this is the trouble...women of our generation (and older) were raised to be good sisters, daughters, wives and mothers, not to pursue our careers. I chose not to have children, and married late but imagine my shock and dismay in realizing I'm relegated to being the goddamn gardener! I thought my flower status was self-evident, but apparently not. My problem is co-dependency (thanks drunk Dad) and so I've learned through the years how to ask for what I want rather than attempt to conjure it via the Golden Rule, but my husband basically says 'so noted' then just carries on as per usual. I wonder if I'm even capable of eradicating my disease to please since I prefer a neater house and I too enjoy doing sweet things for my partner. I think Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera had the best idea; two houses joined by a hallway! In our house we say 'keep the talent happy', but I think 'protect the talent' is the wiser notion. Looking forward to "Older and Wider" :)
Oh wow! Yes, the caretaker thing. It must be so dismaying to think that you did choose the creator creative path and now you are caretaking all the same. ARGH. The caretaking thing is so tricky. It's pleasurable to do things you're good at and people want you to do them and it helps them. How do you stop? I am going to try to reduce it a bit, or... a lot. We'll see how far I get. I loved the Kahlo Rivera model too, except for all the rage and cheating. Ha. I am inspired by people like Quentin who are really good at making space for themselves to create and I wish I had paid more attention when we were young that he was showing me how it could be done. I was arrogant and thought I could do it all - be a wonderful wife, mother, caretaker and also create great art. I did okay, but wow, the family stuff takes a toll. ANYWAY, obviously I could go on with this topic forever. Thanks for writing this post. xoxo
That is so cool you’re releasing it on Substack! There are way too many streaming/subscription services anyway, more than anyone can keep up with -- why get lost in the shuffle? So much more impressive to go your own way and create a new way to release a comedy special. A template that artists of the future will be able to follow. What a caretaking flex *that* is. I am so inspired by this -- the vision, the boldness, the independence, the brilliance of the thinking. In 10 years, when other artists are releasing their comedy specials this way, everyone will have to admit, “Julia Sweeney did it first.”
I feel like you are an old friend talking directly to me. 💕 I'm 70. I am really 29 inside. I've loved you whenever I've seen you, and I am so delighted you are allowing us a little into your life! Hear hear! Protect the talent, indeed! 😊💕
The only thing that would improve the experience of hearing about your life and observations would be hearing about your life and observations while sharing a delicious meal. But Substack will do!
I’m looking forward to seeing Older and Wider. We saw you in it in Seattle and I’m sure it almost grew into a whole new show by the time you got it filmed! It’s exciting to have Mr. Tarantino’s name on it. It excites me, anyway, even I’m too frightened to have never seen any of his films, aside from Letting Go of God
Would love to see Paul and Kelly again. I've not been to the new location of Uncabaret, but I plan to attend in July. Hope you will be scheduled. Thanks for caring so much for people, and please do take care of yourself. We can't loose your talent!
Yikes! As a 60 year old woman currently helping to care for my mother with advanced dementia, her almost deaf, bereft husband and my gifted musician husband, your caretaker observation hit me like a bullet! Carrie Fisher said of her marriage to Paul Simon, 'Where there should be a flower and a gardener, we were two flowers' and this is the trouble...women of our generation (and older) were raised to be good sisters, daughters, wives and mothers, not to pursue our careers. I chose not to have children, and married late but imagine my shock and dismay in realizing I'm relegated to being the goddamn gardener! I thought my flower status was self-evident, but apparently not. My problem is co-dependency (thanks drunk Dad) and so I've learned through the years how to ask for what I want rather than attempt to conjure it via the Golden Rule, but my husband basically says 'so noted' then just carries on as per usual. I wonder if I'm even capable of eradicating my disease to please since I prefer a neater house and I too enjoy doing sweet things for my partner. I think Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera had the best idea; two houses joined by a hallway! In our house we say 'keep the talent happy', but I think 'protect the talent' is the wiser notion. Looking forward to "Older and Wider" :)
Oh wow! Yes, the caretaker thing. It must be so dismaying to think that you did choose the creator creative path and now you are caretaking all the same. ARGH. The caretaking thing is so tricky. It's pleasurable to do things you're good at and people want you to do them and it helps them. How do you stop? I am going to try to reduce it a bit, or... a lot. We'll see how far I get. I loved the Kahlo Rivera model too, except for all the rage and cheating. Ha. I am inspired by people like Quentin who are really good at making space for themselves to create and I wish I had paid more attention when we were young that he was showing me how it could be done. I was arrogant and thought I could do it all - be a wonderful wife, mother, caretaker and also create great art. I did okay, but wow, the family stuff takes a toll. ANYWAY, obviously I could go on with this topic forever. Thanks for writing this post. xoxo
Well damnation, I'm a couple of years shy of your age limit. I'll call you in 2025.
NO! Don't wait. Call now. Operators are standing by.
xoxo
That is so cool you’re releasing it on Substack! There are way too many streaming/subscription services anyway, more than anyone can keep up with -- why get lost in the shuffle? So much more impressive to go your own way and create a new way to release a comedy special. A template that artists of the future will be able to follow. What a caretaking flex *that* is. I am so inspired by this -- the vision, the boldness, the independence, the brilliance of the thinking. In 10 years, when other artists are releasing their comedy specials this way, everyone will have to admit, “Julia Sweeney did it first.”
I feel like you are an old friend talking directly to me. 💕 I'm 70. I am really 29 inside. I've loved you whenever I've seen you, and I am so delighted you are allowing us a little into your life! Hear hear! Protect the talent, indeed! 😊💕
Protect the talent? Hmmm... I think I just discovered my next tattoo.
You're the best, Julia, the Best!
Good grief, you are so impressive. And having accomplished it all while caretaking, if you cut back, I think we'd better brace ourselves.
Julia. Looking forward to Substack Saturday’s with you.
The only thing that would improve the experience of hearing about your life and observations would be hearing about your life and observations while sharing a delicious meal. But Substack will do!
Love these updates and Kate is so damn funny. Can't wait to see your show when you're ready to air it!
I’m looking forward to seeing Older and Wider. We saw you in it in Seattle and I’m sure it almost grew into a whole new show by the time you got it filmed! It’s exciting to have Mr. Tarantino’s name on it. It excites me, anyway, even I’m too frightened to have never seen any of his films, aside from Letting Go of God
It's good to be pro-sleep to "protect the talent."
Would love to see Paul and Kelly again. I've not been to the new location of Uncabaret, but I plan to attend in July. Hope you will be scheduled. Thanks for caring so much for people, and please do take care of yourself. We can't loose your talent!
This is your time. Yes, it is. Protect it.
Hi Julia, Just to say that I so look forward to, and enjoy your Substack offerings. That's all.
Your voice and your lips are not synchronized. Maybe this is AI...
ARGH. I wonder if anyone else had that problem. I can see there are little skips and blips on mine, but I don't know if it's my computer or what.
I didn’t notice any glitches on this one.