If I’m not mistaken, I can hear the love that you have for your parents and that is remarkable. Some people would become bitter and resentful, and you have made all of this grist for the mill for your creative humor. Thank you for sharing with us!
Meaganne...you are NOT mistaken. But it's been a long time coming...the very last line in the whole podcast will explain. Thank you so much for listening!!!
“The doctor lit her baby cigarette…..off his cigarette” will be quoted 200 years from now by that generation’s Judy Dench on that generation’s favorite talk show. This piece is so delicious I read it twice and licked the bowl. Better call a publisher.
You have mastered your craft, Mr. K. You know deep down Mudrick would have just loved this piece (which is not nothing!). And the human side on top of a perfectly packaged anger, fear, dysfunctional love and an ever-pervasive offended angry pride coming from both your parents —-Oh my, the haunting delivery of your father at the door, repeating Maureen, Maureen, chikka chikka, Maureen; everyone praying he doesn’t go full Shining on y’all - and you as a child (in earlier episodes as well) always asking such order-seeking, innocent q’s, such as “Are they all the Beatles?” Heart-felt and profound. It illustrates well a world (and families, which have only become more like this; often w much more than the sliding glass door which shatters). I think we’re all in pain now; family of man style; otherwise perhaps in denial. I love an honest-artful dose of the boiling pot. In a Buddhist sense, you might call this “direct pointing” which might be component of we manage to mature as a civilization. There’s no lecturing, no angling, etc. but merely a pointing a pointing of what is. Thank you for all of that:)
Oh Stephen! Krystal sent me this link, I had fun listening! I did not ever know your Mom, but your Dad - I knew him! haha The ketchup bottle story .... just substitute the motor home door. That door would not open for Gene, but it sure did open for everyone else. It was a great memory for this Friday, thanks for sharing. I look forward to the next episode.
Oh Patty! It's so good to see your voice! Hello! I'm so grateful you're listening! Yes...you sure DID know Dad! There was that famous picture in the motorhome of Dad vs The Motor Home Door! Lot's of Sons of Bitches and Jeeeeeeeeesus Christs!!! on that day. You might want to listen to He Is Risen and The Otter stories for a straight shot of Gene Kearin! You'll meet my mom as Toughen Up goes along. 9 episodes left! I hope you enjoy the ride!
Well lived, well traumoired, well told. So sensory and visceral! Great and varied sound effects! (When will you be doing the sound effect intensive?)
I worked with a boy years ago whose father told him to "get me the knife" during a kitchen brawl with the boy's mother, whom the father then stabbed to death in front of the boy - so I'd say that part of the episode felt particularly real to me. It's a wonder we survive as long as we do, let alone find a pathway to thriving. Your stories always evoke a cascade of memories, for which I am grateful, along with the cascade of thoughts and feelings about your life, and about life in general.
I wonder if not-feisty Irish redheads are a kind of unicorn. Maybe all along they've been in the tapestries at the Cloisters in NY, but I just never noticed them.
I love that you credited the kitchen pep-talk. It must have been great and effective. And yes, that amazing journey through which we come to sincerely credit and thank our families.
Thank you, Meg! The pep talk was from my sister-in-law who is a trauma therapist, who survived a truly horrific experience as a child. She encouraged me to keep going and write and record these stories. I'll never forget that talk. I'm really grateful you're listening. I think I'll be teaching a sound effects class sooner than you think up your way, so stay tuned. Plenty more to come in the remaining episodes!
How beautiful about your sister-in-law. What a gift, both directly for you and as a pebble thrown into, and sending ripples through, the rest-of-us pond.
As for the sound effects class, I think pretty fast. Game on. :-)
Yes, it's finally here, the saga finally begins! I'll say so far, hearing more and more of your backstory made me realize Geller's monologue in Wayne about his father was really just a snippet of your own life story - and I mean that in the best way! It's been fun piecing together the info, both from your essays and the podcasts you've been on! (you mentioning your parents' fights and the wall of sound in the bathroom in this episode was my last piece to this puzzle)
Yes. Good ear, Elvis. The head writer asked if they could "borrow" the rollerskating story from my one man show and use it on Wayne. I had to ask my sisters, but they said okay and that turned out to be Geller's monologue in Episode 10 on the show. Surreal to be telling that true story in character. Was very difficult to hold it together every single take, as I pictured our father suddenly transforming into Fred Astaire. That story will show up in about 3 weeks on the podcast, so stay tuned.
Enjoying your writing very much and will be subscribing for much more. One thing I realized is that cruel words are worse than beatings as a child. Pain can fade over time, but the savage words and self doubt they create remain a lifetime battle. You have triumphed over a very rough beginning to become extremely talented and a person I greatly respect and admire. Good on ya'.
Thank you, Maggie. That's very kind. It doesn't feel much like a triumph on most days, like all of us, but Falling Upwards, as Richard Rohr says. I'm so grateful you're listening!!!
More please:)
Seemed like 5 mins
Thanks, Stuart!
Damnit man, I would read a huge thick book of this.
Thank you so much, Forrest! 9 more thick eps coming!
If I’m not mistaken, I can hear the love that you have for your parents and that is remarkable. Some people would become bitter and resentful, and you have made all of this grist for the mill for your creative humor. Thank you for sharing with us!
Meaganne...you are NOT mistaken. But it's been a long time coming...the very last line in the whole podcast will explain. Thank you so much for listening!!!
Why is being Irish or a redhead or both often associated with being feisty?
Someone had to be first. Who is that someone? Or what group of Irish redheads were feisty and therefore started the stereotype?
And what about the Irish redheads that aren’t feisty? Do they feel short changed?
I heard it might be a Neanderthal thing? Explains plenty, but might just be rumor...
“The doctor lit her baby cigarette…..off his cigarette” will be quoted 200 years from now by that generation’s Judy Dench on that generation’s favorite talk show. This piece is so delicious I read it twice and licked the bowl. Better call a publisher.
Haha! Thank you, Jane! 9 more Eps to go, so hang on!
Love love love
Love, Love, Love right back.
You have mastered your craft, Mr. K. You know deep down Mudrick would have just loved this piece (which is not nothing!). And the human side on top of a perfectly packaged anger, fear, dysfunctional love and an ever-pervasive offended angry pride coming from both your parents —-Oh my, the haunting delivery of your father at the door, repeating Maureen, Maureen, chikka chikka, Maureen; everyone praying he doesn’t go full Shining on y’all - and you as a child (in earlier episodes as well) always asking such order-seeking, innocent q’s, such as “Are they all the Beatles?” Heart-felt and profound. It illustrates well a world (and families, which have only become more like this; often w much more than the sliding glass door which shatters). I think we’re all in pain now; family of man style; otherwise perhaps in denial. I love an honest-artful dose of the boiling pot. In a Buddhist sense, you might call this “direct pointing” which might be component of we manage to mature as a civilization. There’s no lecturing, no angling, etc. but merely a pointing a pointing of what is. Thank you for all of that:)
Thank you so much, Mike. I appreciate all of this so much. Truly. Thank you.
I love this. Thank you Stephen!
Thank you, Bridget! So grateful you're listening! This is a ride!
Oh Stephen! Krystal sent me this link, I had fun listening! I did not ever know your Mom, but your Dad - I knew him! haha The ketchup bottle story .... just substitute the motor home door. That door would not open for Gene, but it sure did open for everyone else. It was a great memory for this Friday, thanks for sharing. I look forward to the next episode.
Oh Patty! It's so good to see your voice! Hello! I'm so grateful you're listening! Yes...you sure DID know Dad! There was that famous picture in the motorhome of Dad vs The Motor Home Door! Lot's of Sons of Bitches and Jeeeeeeeeesus Christs!!! on that day. You might want to listen to He Is Risen and The Otter stories for a straight shot of Gene Kearin! You'll meet my mom as Toughen Up goes along. 9 episodes left! I hope you enjoy the ride!
Oh! More Gene-isms?? I'll check it out!
"It's so good to see your voice!" haha Made me laugh.
Speaking of Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeses Christ ...... you know the Trivial Pursuit story????
HAHAHAHA never mind!!!!! I am reading it right now! haha
Oh yes....THAT story! Be sure to listen to them if you can. I write them but they're all meant to be read aloud/listened to. You're making me laugh.
No! YOU are making ME laugh!!!!!
Well lived, well traumoired, well told. So sensory and visceral! Great and varied sound effects! (When will you be doing the sound effect intensive?)
I worked with a boy years ago whose father told him to "get me the knife" during a kitchen brawl with the boy's mother, whom the father then stabbed to death in front of the boy - so I'd say that part of the episode felt particularly real to me. It's a wonder we survive as long as we do, let alone find a pathway to thriving. Your stories always evoke a cascade of memories, for which I am grateful, along with the cascade of thoughts and feelings about your life, and about life in general.
I wonder if not-feisty Irish redheads are a kind of unicorn. Maybe all along they've been in the tapestries at the Cloisters in NY, but I just never noticed them.
I love that you credited the kitchen pep-talk. It must have been great and effective. And yes, that amazing journey through which we come to sincerely credit and thank our families.
Thank you, Meg! The pep talk was from my sister-in-law who is a trauma therapist, who survived a truly horrific experience as a child. She encouraged me to keep going and write and record these stories. I'll never forget that talk. I'm really grateful you're listening. I think I'll be teaching a sound effects class sooner than you think up your way, so stay tuned. Plenty more to come in the remaining episodes!
How beautiful about your sister-in-law. What a gift, both directly for you and as a pebble thrown into, and sending ripples through, the rest-of-us pond.
As for the sound effects class, I think pretty fast. Game on. :-)
And I'm working on being one of those unicorns, but no luck so far.
Yes, it's finally here, the saga finally begins! I'll say so far, hearing more and more of your backstory made me realize Geller's monologue in Wayne about his father was really just a snippet of your own life story - and I mean that in the best way! It's been fun piecing together the info, both from your essays and the podcasts you've been on! (you mentioning your parents' fights and the wall of sound in the bathroom in this episode was my last piece to this puzzle)
Yes. Good ear, Elvis. The head writer asked if they could "borrow" the rollerskating story from my one man show and use it on Wayne. I had to ask my sisters, but they said okay and that turned out to be Geller's monologue in Episode 10 on the show. Surreal to be telling that true story in character. Was very difficult to hold it together every single take, as I pictured our father suddenly transforming into Fred Astaire. That story will show up in about 3 weeks on the podcast, so stay tuned.
Enjoying your writing very much and will be subscribing for much more. One thing I realized is that cruel words are worse than beatings as a child. Pain can fade over time, but the savage words and self doubt they create remain a lifetime battle. You have triumphed over a very rough beginning to become extremely talented and a person I greatly respect and admire. Good on ya'.
Thank you, Maggie. That's very kind. It doesn't feel much like a triumph on most days, like all of us, but Falling Upwards, as Richard Rohr says. I'm so grateful you're listening!!!
This has me laughing out loud in the street, but also sighing and rolling the turns of phrase around in my mind. “She was lowering us.” Oof.
Thank you so much, Chris! I'm so grateful you're listening!