Another beauty! Your work seems straightforward and simple as I’m taking it in and only at the end do I see how I’ve been moved. As in, touched.
The photo of you, secure on your mother’s steady shoulders, feels like a warm, strong, female totem pole. Theo is secure on your shoulders and always will be.
Love this, Jennifer. We only met once many years ago (at Words & Music in NOLA) but I feel as if I know you from reading your books & your Liminal essays.
I’m 83 now, my daughter is 43, my granddaughter is 17. Not sure I have another book in me; I love my writing group with Elizabeth Stark in Berkeley but getting my mss through the publishing process seems too much of an ordeal at this point in my life.
Thank you so much, Bridget. I love that you have kept in touch with me! Thank you for reading my work. I would love to read a book of yours and for selfish reasons hope that you do get your mss through the publishing process! Though I know all too well what a tough world publishing is. Sending you love.
Thank you, Jennifer, for this frank post. When I was an undergraduate I had a professor who was also a Reform rabbi. I remember him defining religion (I hope I'm not distorting his words--I don't think so) as "a response to our inadequacy." That is, life is full of things beyond our control, we lack knowledge and power over them, we dwell in uncertainty--and how we choose to respond to this predicament, THAT, in effect, is the expression of our religion. It can be more, or it can be less, formal; but no one will be able to do without it.
What a wonderful way to think about it. I appreciate all thoughts on how people live with the uncertainty and mystery and horror and grief of our lives. How they choose to respond to it. I appreciate religions that invite questioning and argument, that create space where people can fully express doubt alongside faith and hope. Where they can think things through and where they are allowed to change their mind and evolve.
I always look forward to your posts, if for no other reason than you are such a wonderful writer and are able to be so open about your experiences. I share your non-belief beliefs for many of the same reasons and yet find myself completely fascinated by the lives of the Saints. I was raised Catholic and do find comfort during difficult times in going to mass and participating in the rituals. It helps me feel connected to my brother and grandmother, both of who I miss and both of whom were devout in their way. When I was a kid, I loved the theatre of mass and insisted that we sit down front so that I could see the alter boys (and girls) ring the bell during the blessing of the host to signify the coming of the holy ghost. We sang a lot in that church. It was during the De Colores or Cursillo movement in the 1970s so we sang things like "Blowing in the Wind" and "500 Miles" in church instead of regular hymns, and instead of a regular choir is was a folk group with singers and guitars and tambourines. As I got older, I discovered that there were many kinds of Catholics and that most of them were not singing Joan Baez songs during mass. I also started thinking more critically about everything and really began to question the importance of knowing whether or not there is a God. Weren't there more important, earthly things to be concerned about? Anyway, as you know, I will never turn down an opportunity to go into a church and marvel at it's beauty (especially in Europe) and feel some awe. Thinking of you always and sending love.
Thank you, Carla! It's good to know that there are masses out there being celebrated with much more music and creativity than those in our part of France. I completely understand the comfort you find in these spaces, and how they are somewhere you feel connected with your grandmother and brother. Thinking of you and Vinny! xoxo
Dear Jennifer I loved your piece about Paris and have been following your passages through this rough terrain you have encountered in life. You are brave and the writing is beautiful. I wanted to mention, though of course you have probably been there, that the extremely mother-centered, feminine centered church at St Maries De La Mer moved me a great deal when we visited it while staying in Sauve. All of the images, almost, and icons, are of women deities, or saints, traces of other sacred beliefs. The Black Madonna in the lower level, worshipped with no Jesus in sight-- the whole is an architecture and a history that speaks to an older sacredness. There was an attempt to smudge it out by Christianity, but somehow, in this almost secret place, winning. I found it unique among Western churches, spiritually profound.
Wow, thank you Moira! I actually had not heard of it. I must go check it out! It sounds fascinating. Thank you so much for sharing that with me. Sending you love and endless admiration of your art and writing! I hope you will come visit again soon! xo
Another beauty! Your work seems straightforward and simple as I’m taking it in and only at the end do I see how I’ve been moved. As in, touched.
The photo of you, secure on your mother’s steady shoulders, feels like a warm, strong, female totem pole. Theo is secure on your shoulders and always will be.
Okay, this just made me cry... Thank you, Catherine. I hope so. I'm so glad to know you.
Same 💚
My best book is FORGETTING IRELAND. It’s been recently reissued in paperback. How may I send it to you?
Bridget, I just bought your book, which I am very much looking forward to reading. Who says Substack doesn’t work for writers 😊
How wonderful! Thank you! My mailing address is: 20 Rue Louis Mercoiret, Sauve, 30610, Gard, FRANCE
Love this, Jennifer. We only met once many years ago (at Words & Music in NOLA) but I feel as if I know you from reading your books & your Liminal essays.
I’m 83 now, my daughter is 43, my granddaughter is 17. Not sure I have another book in me; I love my writing group with Elizabeth Stark in Berkeley but getting my mss through the publishing process seems too much of an ordeal at this point in my life.
Thank you so much, Bridget. I love that you have kept in touch with me! Thank you for reading my work. I would love to read a book of yours and for selfish reasons hope that you do get your mss through the publishing process! Though I know all too well what a tough world publishing is. Sending you love.
Thank you, Jennifer, for this frank post. When I was an undergraduate I had a professor who was also a Reform rabbi. I remember him defining religion (I hope I'm not distorting his words--I don't think so) as "a response to our inadequacy." That is, life is full of things beyond our control, we lack knowledge and power over them, we dwell in uncertainty--and how we choose to respond to this predicament, THAT, in effect, is the expression of our religion. It can be more, or it can be less, formal; but no one will be able to do without it.
What a wonderful way to think about it. I appreciate all thoughts on how people live with the uncertainty and mystery and horror and grief of our lives. How they choose to respond to it. I appreciate religions that invite questioning and argument, that create space where people can fully express doubt alongside faith and hope. Where they can think things through and where they are allowed to change their mind and evolve.
I always look forward to your posts, if for no other reason than you are such a wonderful writer and are able to be so open about your experiences. I share your non-belief beliefs for many of the same reasons and yet find myself completely fascinated by the lives of the Saints. I was raised Catholic and do find comfort during difficult times in going to mass and participating in the rituals. It helps me feel connected to my brother and grandmother, both of who I miss and both of whom were devout in their way. When I was a kid, I loved the theatre of mass and insisted that we sit down front so that I could see the alter boys (and girls) ring the bell during the blessing of the host to signify the coming of the holy ghost. We sang a lot in that church. It was during the De Colores or Cursillo movement in the 1970s so we sang things like "Blowing in the Wind" and "500 Miles" in church instead of regular hymns, and instead of a regular choir is was a folk group with singers and guitars and tambourines. As I got older, I discovered that there were many kinds of Catholics and that most of them were not singing Joan Baez songs during mass. I also started thinking more critically about everything and really began to question the importance of knowing whether or not there is a God. Weren't there more important, earthly things to be concerned about? Anyway, as you know, I will never turn down an opportunity to go into a church and marvel at it's beauty (especially in Europe) and feel some awe. Thinking of you always and sending love.
Thank you, Carla! It's good to know that there are masses out there being celebrated with much more music and creativity than those in our part of France. I completely understand the comfort you find in these spaces, and how they are somewhere you feel connected with your grandmother and brother. Thinking of you and Vinny! xoxo
Dear Jennifer I loved your piece about Paris and have been following your passages through this rough terrain you have encountered in life. You are brave and the writing is beautiful. I wanted to mention, though of course you have probably been there, that the extremely mother-centered, feminine centered church at St Maries De La Mer moved me a great deal when we visited it while staying in Sauve. All of the images, almost, and icons, are of women deities, or saints, traces of other sacred beliefs. The Black Madonna in the lower level, worshipped with no Jesus in sight-- the whole is an architecture and a history that speaks to an older sacredness. There was an attempt to smudge it out by Christianity, but somehow, in this almost secret place, winning. I found it unique among Western churches, spiritually profound.
Wow, thank you Moira! I actually had not heard of it. I must go check it out! It sounds fascinating. Thank you so much for sharing that with me. Sending you love and endless admiration of your art and writing! I hope you will come visit again soon! xo