Powerful prose! Thank you! Gotta admit though, so glad you didn’t become a nun! Not for any religious reasons. I’m sure you would have had a profound impact on many - but I have to wonder if God, in his infinite wisdom, didn’t realize that you could touch so many more lives through your wit and understanding of human nature. Shined light is illuminating whether it’s from a candle, a flashlight, or a beacon calling in ships to safety. You spread joy through laughter, you support others through your ability to share yourself so openly, and you lead by example. If that isn’t serving God, I don’t know what is! Keep sharing. Keep shining!
The story of the urn!! Starting at 10:53. No one else does family stories as well as you do: funny, charming, humane stories about real characters and messy life-and-death dynamics. When you push your eyeglasses up as you’re telling him what he’s gonna do with his dog’s ashes? Brilliant.
Also, nuns and students at an all-girl’s school as Barbieland -- ha!!
The urn story was hilarious. Thank you for sharing that with us, Julia. Also loved hearing your perspective of being less famous...but, you have reintroduced yourself over and over with your wonderful monologues, stories, and volunteer work so you are famous to those of use who know you currently -- you continue to amaze everyone with your variety of talents -- such as this Saturday Substack feature. Looking forward to more.
Oh, the childhood memories your stories unleash. I may have to watch 'The Trouble With Angels' this week, to celebrate. My version of MaryCliff was called Ladywood-St. Agnes, in Indianapolis, IN, and though there was a gorgeous mansion on the grounds where the girls who boarded overnight lived, our actual campus was not nearly as beautiful. My class was one of the last all girl classes before they joined with the Ken's of Chatard. Barbie Land, you bet, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Thanks for the neural journey you have inspired.
As for some name dropping, David Letterman bagged our groceries at Atlas Supermarket, and when I was nine, my mother predicted he would be the next Johnny Carson while we waited in line at the checkout. In my opinion, he has never been funnier than when he was a high school kid.
I love the Meg-Japan & you-Hollywood escape stories, too. I also ended up escaping, first to France for a year, later to Southeast Asia for several years. I always say that latter escape saved my life. Your vid reminds me *why* that was true.
Well, you coulda still smoked cigarettes and slept with men, so no big impediment there... and you coulda starred in a revival of Memoirs of a Nun by Daniel Diderot, maybe.. . Just a thought... a "reality" show version.
The Max story just about killed me, because it sounds like something my family would do. I so look forward to your Saturday Substacks and admire your candor about hard things.
I loved the Marycliff tour. I did some clinical supervision there for an up and coming therapist back in the day, but I couldn’t figure out how everything was situated for that high school on the hill. I feel so bad for those displaced nuns.
I did a morning mass at St. Augustine’s. Hot Jesus was too frail to my eye. I don’t know what all the elderly congregants are deriving from daily attendance. The sound system is so muddy. I have great hearing, but could best understand what was being said when the priest was off mic.
Truly a treat to time travel through your stories! That proposed missing urn solution deserves its own Curb Your Enthusiasm episode.
Powerful prose! Thank you! Gotta admit though, so glad you didn’t become a nun! Not for any religious reasons. I’m sure you would have had a profound impact on many - but I have to wonder if God, in his infinite wisdom, didn’t realize that you could touch so many more lives through your wit and understanding of human nature. Shined light is illuminating whether it’s from a candle, a flashlight, or a beacon calling in ships to safety. You spread joy through laughter, you support others through your ability to share yourself so openly, and you lead by example. If that isn’t serving God, I don’t know what is! Keep sharing. Keep shining!
Having grown up in Spokane, this is the first time I have ever seen the Marycliff campus. I really enjoyed this one. ☺️
The story of the urn!! Starting at 10:53. No one else does family stories as well as you do: funny, charming, humane stories about real characters and messy life-and-death dynamics. When you push your eyeglasses up as you’re telling him what he’s gonna do with his dog’s ashes? Brilliant.
Also, nuns and students at an all-girl’s school as Barbieland -- ha!!
The urn story was hilarious. Thank you for sharing that with us, Julia. Also loved hearing your perspective of being less famous...but, you have reintroduced yourself over and over with your wonderful monologues, stories, and volunteer work so you are famous to those of use who know you currently -- you continue to amaze everyone with your variety of talents -- such as this Saturday Substack feature. Looking forward to more.
The part about the dog ashes had me cracking up!
Great talk. I too went to a convent for high school. The Franciscan Academy . What a trip !!!
Oh, the childhood memories your stories unleash. I may have to watch 'The Trouble With Angels' this week, to celebrate. My version of MaryCliff was called Ladywood-St. Agnes, in Indianapolis, IN, and though there was a gorgeous mansion on the grounds where the girls who boarded overnight lived, our actual campus was not nearly as beautiful. My class was one of the last all girl classes before they joined with the Ken's of Chatard. Barbie Land, you bet, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Thanks for the neural journey you have inspired.
As for some name dropping, David Letterman bagged our groceries at Atlas Supermarket, and when I was nine, my mother predicted he would be the next Johnny Carson while we waited in line at the checkout. In my opinion, he has never been funnier than when he was a high school kid.
"Mary don't do it! We've ALL had the 'son of God'" 😆😆😆😆😆
Ms. Sweeney, you're so funny, and I really appreciate you!!!!!
Great stories of your life... thank you Julia!
I love the Meg-Japan & you-Hollywood escape stories, too. I also ended up escaping, first to France for a year, later to Southeast Asia for several years. I always say that latter escape saved my life. Your vid reminds me *why* that was true.
Jim said, "Well, I have Max."
hahahahahahahaha!!! I love your vids :)
"We've all had the son of God if you know what I mean," Mary's friends said. Hilarious.
Makes me happy to hear about you and your sister. And the urn story-priceless!
Well, you coulda still smoked cigarettes and slept with men, so no big impediment there... and you coulda starred in a revival of Memoirs of a Nun by Daniel Diderot, maybe.. . Just a thought... a "reality" show version.
The Max story just about killed me, because it sounds like something my family would do. I so look forward to your Saturday Substacks and admire your candor about hard things.
I loved the Marycliff tour. I did some clinical supervision there for an up and coming therapist back in the day, but I couldn’t figure out how everything was situated for that high school on the hill. I feel so bad for those displaced nuns.
I did a morning mass at St. Augustine’s. Hot Jesus was too frail to my eye. I don’t know what all the elderly congregants are deriving from daily attendance. The sound system is so muddy. I have great hearing, but could best understand what was being said when the priest was off mic.
Oh my gosh, the drama/comedy of the urn!