San Jose CA: I am Alice

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I love my Mom.

As I write, I am less than 36 hours from departing and it seemed poetic to start where I started.  To reach out and record my Mom.  This act is not without some complications.  My Mom and I enjoy the fullest spectrum of mother-daughter angst and, I think you will hear, joy.  But both have been tempered these recent years with the onset of dementia (I suppose mine as well as her’s) and I approached our time together gently and without expectations.

All four of my grandparents were Armenian.  All four were refugee’s having lost most, and in some cases, all of their families.  It is the generational differences in our experiences and our realities that has largly defined our relationship.  I will confess that it is those distinctions, and not our shared experiences, that have dominated my perceptions.  But today, as I listened closely, for the first time in many years, all I could feel was the thread that binds us.  Today, it is clear, I am Alice

[rtmp3 url="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/108166614/Audio2012/Alice%20Dorian.mp3" title="Alice Dorian"]

Comments

San Jose CA: I am Alice — 10 Comments

  1. What a wonderful interview to kick-start your quadrennial trek!I love her comment about elections being one of the best things that happened to this country and about “if you want to change things you have to get in there and fight the the system”. Like Derek, I am so in awe of your ability to follow your dreams. I love you and I will miss you every minute of this trip!

  2. Julie,
    A very loving way to start this trip … I so love you for it!

    Mom never felt like an outsider, she sees the best of our country (like OBAMA) and she is grateful and realistic … all with a sense of humor!

    God speed …

  3. I love this interview! I love hearing you laugh with your Mom, Julie. An inspired beginning!

  4. What a remarkable 3 minutes! Julie, you have a talent for bringing out the best in people, even your own mother. So rich and juicy, like a crisp black grape. I look forward to the next installments.

    Lord be with you, sojourner. Hope you get so sit next to some interesting people on the bus.

  6. Jules – both your writing and this interview brought me to tears of joy! Gifts come to the soul in many many ways and sometimes they are so unexpected. I used to think I learned everything I know from Dad, but in this interview, I heard my mom’s voice in me! Thank you for this gift. Go with God on this journey! I am thinking of you now as you are about to board the Grayhound Express!! Much love to you and the optimism and light you bring to all your endeavors!!
    Your very proud and already lonely sister!! d.

  7. Julie,
    Your mom may be aging, but she still seems to have more insight and common sense than a lot of candidates I’ve listened to lately. What a great way to start your journey.
    Good luck to you!

  8. What a strong, intelligent and honest woman your mother is. I hear your sister, Dianne, in your laughter! This is priceless!