I have an interest in, and respect for, nuns. I could see some part of myself as a nun. I visited the Benedictine order on Shaw Island in Washington state in 2000. I prayed with the nuns and swept their barn and fed their animals. It was a beautiful experience.

My mom was a nun in a Dominican order in California, from age 18 -26. She left before her final vows, feeling that she had had a rich experience. A year later, her friend — a priest– set her up with my dad, and their first (blind) date was attending mass together. My mom taught elementary school during and after the convent, and after she had me and my brother, went to graduate school and became a psychotherapist. I was raised Catholic, but my parents left it up to me whether or not I wanted to be confirmed, and I chose not to.

I am an artist, a wife, and a mother. I am also gay, and happily married to my wife. I started reading and writing blogs while pumping breast milk for my son, who is now a healthy 7 month old, but was born three months premature.

So, why would I willingly escort myself into rejection by writing to you? Because there is the chance that you are open-minded, while still a nun. (Or is there?) And perhaps there is the chance that you, also, would be interested in connecting with someone in a different world, and perhaps learn that we aren’t as different as we thought.

Well I am done pumping and it is Christmas Eve!

May this season hold new light for you.

Susanna

I hope you have a very happy and blessed Christmas!

Jackie