Jill, Nora, Sean, Jenny, Valerie

Friends,

I’ve had these names and corresponding articles/videos saved for quite some time. I hope you connect to them in some way!

1️⃣ Jill

I first heard a Jill Sobule song in my favorite tweenage film, Clueless. I can’t remember if I bought a cassette tape or CD of her album, but I do remember playing it on repeat. Even though her song was featured in film marketed to young women, when she came through Philadelphia on tour, she played a 21+ venue. My mom brought me to her show at the Tin Angel and then I was able to see her (and meet her) at the Lilith Fair — also with my mom. She won tickets to the festival on a local radio station.

After my teenage years, I stopped following Jill’s career until a few years ago when I read that she was developing a musical. This was a dream combo!

Sadly, Jill Sobule died in a house fire a little over a month ago. It is devastating.

If you’d like to get to know her (or remind yourself of who she was), here’s Jill’s obituary from the NY Times:

2️⃣ Nora

I have been iterating on my professional resume over these past few months. Every time I sit down to refresh a previous version, I think of my college acting teacher, Nora Mae Lyng. Nora was one of a tiny group of professors from college that I have fond memories of. She was hilarious, encouraging, and always honed in on who we were as young adults learning to be professional actors.

She was also a great storyteller. I remember so clearly her story of updating her own resume and instead of writing the name of the character that she played in the Broadway production of Les Miserable, she wrote “Title Role.” She went on to tell us what a miserable experience she had in the production and how it was her cast that rallied for a new, safer kind of fog machine to be used in the show. I have continued to be impressed with the humor that she infused into her resume and long to find a way to infuse humor into my own.

She also told us that when she was in between Broadway shows, she would still show up to Times Square around Curtain Call to run through the crowds of theatergoers screaming “I’m late for my show!” Another way to find light and joy whilst unemployed and uncertain of what’s yet to come.

Nora died in 2017, I found out via her NY Times obituary. She is forever a star.

3️⃣ Sean

In the early days of the YouTube series, Hot Ones, my friend Aaron hosted a birthday party inspired by the show’s premise. Together, with a group of friends, we ate all ten hot sauces (on in the current season’s line-up. It was an unforgettable party, a terrific bonding experience, and marked the beginning of my obsession with the show. Earlier this year, the company that produces Hot Ones, bought itself outright from Buzzfeed and is now its own independent media company. Hot Ones’ host and co-creator, Sean Evans sat down for an hour interview of his own, sans hot sauce, to speaks more about his career path, the new company, and staying true to his vision. I found it very inspiring.

4️⃣ Jenny

At the start of one of his interviews, Marc Maron mentioned that he had just sobbed while watching a 9 min clip of Adele from 9 years ago. Without giving too much away, here’s the video. It’s a good for a sob and for inducing joy!

5️⃣ Valerie

I am in year two of living with an adorable, difficult, medically mysterious, firecracker miniature dachshund named Ebi. I loved dachshunds before this dog was in my life, but I would say that I am now obsessed with the breed. For months, my partner TJ was following the story of a missing dachshund on Kangaroo Island in Australia. After 500 or so days, she was spotting in the wild and an animal rescue organization began their rescue and reuniting process. This short video is a news story and interview that took place just after Valerie was reunited with her pet parents. Once you watch this video, it’s worth a quick Google to gather more info on the full story. It’s incredible! Get ready for sobs and joy once again!

How is it June already?!?

Cheers,

Hillary