Interview with Carol Pawlak, Narrator, Celebration of Sisters: It Is Never Too Late To Grieve5/3/2022 Life works in mysterious ways. When choosing a narrator to record my memoir, I knew the instant I heard Carol’s voice she was the perfect fit. Carol’s warm, sensitive demeanor shined through. I laughed at some of the mispronunciations of the Jewish words like Chai, and Yom Kippur. Carol graciously suggested we speak so that she would hear the correct pronunciation. The moment we spoke, an instant connection formed. Little did I know, our bond cemented beyond working together on Celebration of Sisters. Judy: Please share with us your background and how you came to be a narrator. Carol: I’ve been a creative as long as I can remember. As a child, I would write, direct plays using my Barbie dolls as the actors, putting on the plays for my family and friends. I loved to sing and roleplay (once as Mother Nature sitting in a field of flowers and charging five cents for a visit with me and sharing what I knew about the world around me… all improv of course) Always had a flair for voices, making up cartoons and loving all the different characters I could create. As an adult, I made a career of working in the television industry as an actor, rehearsal actor and stand-in for other actors on Sitcoms and children’s shows. During the Pandemic, everything had shut down, and wanted to find something to do to continue my love of acting and found the world of voice over so interesting and fun. I was able to work from my own home sound treated booth. I have enjoyed this new career to be lots of fun and rewarding. Reading memoirs and non-fiction narration is my favorite. I also enjoy the cartoon characters, but I think sharing someone’s story is the most rewarding. Judy: Why were you drawn to Celebration of Sisters? Carol: As the fourth sister in a family of five, I was drawn to the title, Celebration of Sisters. It sounded familiar, so much my own relationship with my own three older sisters. The love we share and the memories we have. Judy: What was it about Judy’s story that resonated with your own life? Carol: As I continued to look further, It is Never too Late to Grieve, grabbed my heartstrings, as I had recently lost my own sister to AML. I wanted to read Judy’s story, hoping to find some peace for myself, and help others along the way who needed to hear it. I realized reading her story, and the timeline between her loss and the book’s publishing was inspiring. I loved the stories of their lives together, their childhoods, the places they visited and the family’s devotion to each other; living in Boston, the vacations, and the memories they shared. It felt much like my own life as a young girl. There were lots of similarities Judy and I shared, and even through her struggles with the loss of her sisters, I felt the closeness that she carried with her through the years. I know that loss, I felt her sadness and yet I could celebrate with her the accomplishments through the Celebration Events. The Ice Skate was a special reminder of my own childhood memories. I was able to begin to celebrate my own beautiful sister and her gifts she gave me. Judy: What advice would you give to someone who may be interested in recording an audiobook, or an author recording their own book? Carol: I’m speaking in the world of non-fiction. If you are an author, I think that narrating your own book is a wonderful idea. Your words can come to life because you have lived it. You don’t need to have the “perfect voice” as most people might believe. All you need is to do is “talk” to the person who is listening, tell your story. Create an intimate relationship though the story, and your heart will follow. As a narrator, make sure to invest some time to explore the book, to get to know your author by reading the book first. Create a relationship between you and the author even if you have never met. By taking those steps, the narration will come to life though your heart as well. Judy: In addition to being a talented narrator and voice over individual, rumor has it you are a stellar baker, what is the most memorable cake you made? Carol: Yes, that is another creative avenue I pursued for many years to stay home and raise my children. When I started working in the television industry, it basically brought the two together, and I was hired to also bake cakes, cupcakes and cookies for props and the cast and crew of various shows I worked on and others. My most memorable cakes were created for our beloved Betty White. The most favorite… has been the Luau Cake for her 93rd Birthday. It’s been shared many times by magazines and such. Most of all, everyone enjoyed the cakes I created, and gives me great memories of working with some wonderful people in the last 20+ years. 
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In the chapter entitled “We Get Up", I write,
“I was about to practice a spin on the ice. My skates newly sharpened, I skated to the end of the rink near the mirrors away from the fast skaters. One foot crossed over the other. I stepped into the spin, one arm overhead, the other arm extended, and then – nothing. Complete darkness.” Little did I know I suffered a concussion, bruised the left side of my face, and required eight stitches on the corner of my eye. At age sixty-two, would I skate again? With stern looks from the doctors who advised me to stop skating. What? This did not register. Skating was my joy, passion, and the connection to my beloved sisters Margie and Jane. The accident occurred two weeks prior to The Skating of Boston Ice Chips where I was to perform in two numbers; The Bostonians, a synchronized piece and an Adult Number celebrating U.S.A. Figure Skating outfitted in hats, scarves, and mittens reflecting the logo. I was crushed not to skate with my fellow adult skaters, enjoy the thrill of an ice show with costumes, makeup, and lights. The crowning glory taking a bow with an ensemble cast, meeting skaters of all ages, crammed into our dressing rooms talking and laughing, sharing stories while waiting to perform, and being nervous backstage. Concussion protocol forced rest. Unable to do much of anything except for a light daily walk, I received a phone call from The Skating Club, asking me to the hold the flag during the singing of the National Anthem signifying the opening of Ice Chips. I would have a part in the show after all! In full regalia of costume, bruised face without a stitch of makeup, finding solid shoes to stand in, I proudly held the flag and enjoyed a brief time in the dressing room with the fellow skaters. Honored and proud when the emcee boldly announced over the Harvard’s Bright Landry Hockey Center, “the flag is held by Judy Lipson, our Adult member.” Three months after the fall I returned to the ice. Not a patient person, forced to be during the recovery. Knowing the severity of concussions and cautiousness from medical professionals. I had no expectations and knew baby steps no grand gestures. Tentatively, one foot on the ice, the other, one foot glide, how wonderful to be on the ice, the breeze flowing through my hair, the smell of the rink, crossing one foot over the other. Surprised, better than anticipated, I lasted fifteen minutes. Little by little I built up endurance, but I was skating! The greatest obstacle became the fear of falling. When a skater zoomed by, I held onto the boards nervous of being knocked over. I realize I am not the skater pre concussion, but I am skating. I find joy and the precious gift every time I step onto the ice. In 2011 I took the journey after thirty years to grieve for my cherished sisters Margie and Jane. I refer to the process as my journey of comfort, bringing my sisters back to me. Suppressing my grief for three decades and not talking about Margie and Jane never felt right. I always felt like a part of me was missing not comprehending or understanding the grieving process. Unable to know what I needed or where to turn, the years ticked away. Thankfully when the time was right, I discovered my journey of comfort.
Surrounding me are numerous photos of Margie and Jane, Margie’s mahogany desk chair with the pink leather seat, Jane’s nightstand, the faded white trimmed in gold, jewelry inscribed with my sister’s names, Margie’s cheerleader necklace, cards and letters scrawled with Margie and Jane’s handwriting, and best of all more memories recalled without the intense pain and the willingness to share with a smile. The emotions run the gambit like the speed of a roller coaster – gradually riding to the top, accelerating at high-speed coming down and repeating – the highs, the lows, the pain, the joy, the sadness, the happiness, and learning to go with the ebb and flow of all the waves. Now that I have dug deep and truly paved my journey of comfort, I miss my sisters more deeply than ever. Being with others who have sisters or if friends talk about sisters, it is more difficult and painful. Learning to navigate the new feelings, and taking a “time out,” crying, or choosing to attend or not attend a function on my terms, still requires work. For thirty years of not sharing or talking about my sisters the sorrow there but masked by shelving so many emotions deep into my subconscious. Today I am more open, transparent, and peeled that onion piece by piece, the tears more fluid, the hurt deeper on another level, the years of loss more pronounced, the missing the what ifs prominent, and the void at the holidays more defined. The other piece of comfort I did not realize was skating, a chord that held me to my cherished sisters. Little did I know that of the three of us, the one with the least talent, I would keep skating and the connection to my sisters as a crucial piece of our past, and our love. Skating and bringing my sisters back provided me the confidence to perform on the ice before a large audience knowing my sisters, my anchors, my cheerleader, and champions were there on my shoulders with me with every glide. My journey of comfort reconnected Judy to Judy. By tossing my grief through the deepest barrels of my brain the true Judy went there too. Hello Judy. Welcome back. Reconnected. Rediscovered. Restored. Undeniable, unquestionable Margie and Jane are my life, my legacy, my past, my present, and my future. In my wildest dreams I never dreamed of becoming a published author, of sharing my story that had been held to the vest and secret for decades, or receive the overwhelming support, kindness, and generosity from readers. The goal of helping others with their grief surpassed all expectations.
For me, the month birthed my own grief journey to a new level I could never imagined. To be transparent about losing Margie and Jane and able to express not only on paper, but express verbally when interviewed on podcasts a task I never could envision myself doing. I suppose when you are passionate about something, you deliver from the heart with an authenticity people appreciate. I participated in The Compassionate Friends Sibling Grief Book Club. Years ago hearing about other siblings losses triggered me and I ran away. Now, I listen with compassion and the stories resonate with a bond I never felt before. Although I am forty years into my grief, and others are a few months, eight years, or a few years, the duration does not matter. We all lost siblings. That is our forever bond. Much like a baby learning to walk and can now see things from a different view, that is how I see grief. A whole new world has opened up now that I let my guard down and talk about Margie and Jane, grief, no matter the time frame. Hearing stories from childhood friends that remember Margie and Jane warms my heart. They are not forgotten. I squashed the grieving process for years and so a bit developmentally delayed, I am catching up. Through Celebration of Sisters wonderful connections are being forged and my grief journey is blossoming. I see missed opportunities and am grateful for the gifts affording me now and I hope the wisdom I can give to others. Life is not a dress rehearsal. We all do the best we can at the time. There are do overs. I lost my sister Margie in 1991 after a twenty year battle with anorexia and bulimia. So often the siblings of those struggling with an eating disorder need support too. Kym Piekunka and Bridget Whitlow work with siblings providing them tools, support and a voice. I was honored to be included with two other siblings to share our stories in this valuable project.
https://youtu.be/A0qNGOJ2o7A I never comprehended the summer of 1970 at age 14, I witnessed my beautiful older sister Margie fading away when she picked me up from overnight camp. My sister whom I idolized was a shadow of herself. For so many years, I had held on to who I wanted her to be. Our lives would later veer off the path into a detour neither of us could have fathomed. Despite it all, Margie and I shared a closeness only sisters understand. Although physically I could witness Margie’s decline, my heart always wanted the sister I looked up to. I felt cheated not only of losing a sister but of a sister I felt I deserved. At age 14 my world as I knew it turned upside down. Her illness allowed her to function well at times and enjoy a reasonable quality of life; then how quickly the tables turned. I adored Margie. She always cherished me as well. Our age difference of two years cemented our close relationship, true soul mates. People commented on the resemblance between the two of us. Margie played the guitar and sang with an angelic voice. I admired her intellect. In junior high, she was the shortest member of the cheerleading squad, a great ice skater, and enjoyed playing tennis. Margie’s illness a taboo topic in the 1970’s. Not immune to the vicious rumors that spread like wild fire and fingers pointed during school I heard loud and clear. The words hurt me to the core. Not able to talk or share with anyone I kept my head down and never told a soul. I knew the truth. The role of big sister is one she took seriously, always wanting to take care of me, worrying about me, listening to me, advising me, with her wonderful wisdom and sense of humor. She always sensed what I felt; nothing about me went past her. Margie forever made me laugh. One of my favorites photographs is of Margie taken a few years before she died. As she sits on the floor reading to my two daughters, Janie is looking up at her with loving eyes and Amy bending over proudly showing her the bow in her hair. The love of all is evident in the smiles they all share. Celebration of Sisters is an annual ice skating fundraiser to honor and commemorate the lives and memories of my sisters Jane E. Lipson and Marjorie E. Lipson to benefit Massachusetts General Hospital will mark a decade, a grand finale in 2021 coinciding with the release of my memoir, Celebration of Sisters: It Is Never Too Late To Grieve.
After a decade, my heart is full of many mixed emotions. Proud of all we have accomplished, eternally grateful to all the extraordinary individuals who have championed the event, honored to share my beloved sisters, and sad to see the close of one Celebration but the start of another Celebration. Our journey is not over. My journey through Celebration of Sisters to grieve for my sisters after 30 years has been a roadmap of twists, turns, bumps, ditches, sunshine, rainbows with a destination of a halo of warmth, peace, joy, bittersweet emotions, sadness, resilience, love and happiness. I am and always will be Judy the middle of three sisters. Ice skating is my passion, my solace, my peace, and the place where I have come full circle in my grief path to remember and pay tribute to my sisters. As I glide across the ice I feel free, the weight of the world gone, with my sisters with me. To those who see me skate, it is seen in the reflection in my face and movements. Choosing the correct piece of music to skate for Celebration of Sisters is extremely important. The lyrics must have meaning, be comparable to the theme of the event, and reverberate my soul. My music selection reflects the love for my cherished sisters, Jane and Margie. For the finale I will perform to the lovely arrangement of Edelweiss by Andre Rieu. The skating performance is about my journey, my healing, a piece of me that will always miss my sisters, re-discovering me, the independent 25 year old who got lost and buried when Jane died in 1981. I hope my sisters would be laughing and proud to see their sister Judy coming into her own and finding herself. Look at Judy the shy sister wearing a pretty skating dress out there skating before a large audience. Celebration of Sisters is my gift to my beloved sisters, to me, and to all lost siblings. The legacies of my dearest Jane and Margie live on in me, my daughters, and in all who share my beautiful sisters. |
AuthorJudy Lipson, is the Founder of Celebration of Sisters, an ice skating fundraiser established in 2011 to commemorate the memories of her beloved sisters to benefit Massachusetts General Hospital. Judy has published articles for The Open to Hope Foundation and The Centering Organization. Massachusetts General Hospital and SKATING Magazine featured numerous pieces on Judy’s philanthropic work. Judy appeared as a guest on The Open To Hope and The Morning Glory Podcasts. Her passion for figure skating secured the recipient of U.S. Figure Skating Association 2020 Get Up Award. Judy’s memoir, Celebration of Sisters: It Is Never Too Late To Grieve, released December 2021 by WriteLife Publishing. Archives
January 2023
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