You’ve got to see this!
My brother Andy Goodman was invited to participate in a Rant performance in Los Angeles. He chose to talk about our mother and what her death meant to him. Hard to believe that he turned it into an hilarious 10-minute talk which I want to share with you. Not only do I want you to see my brother’s extraordinarily smart and talented performance, but I also want to open the kimono a bit to show where I come from.
Let me know what you think. My favorite bit is the Nautilus reference…






Wow! Your brother is awesome. So articulate, and his use of humor and compassion to illustrate the complex relationship he (& you) had with Mom is admirable. Thanks for sharing this.
xoxo
Sandy
@Sandy
I’m a very proud big sister!
What a delight. Haven’t laughed that hard in awhile. Oh, the long reaching grasp of strong willed, demanding, laser focused mothers – we all want to please them -but from a long reaching distance.
Oh my Jane – I started listening to him and laughing and my three house guests came in to hear the rest….what a candid and good writer, like you… thank you from us all
@Kare
I blush at the comparison. Thank you!
Jane, this is brilliant! Poignant, touching, and oh yes, seriously funny. Absolutely loved it.
@Nancy
Well said–seriously funny. Thanks!
@Janeene
I love the long-reaching distance angle. So true!
Wow. Heart wrenching and and so funny at the same time. I feel like I just watched a TED talk (my highest praise!).
@Maggie
TED! Wow is right! I’ll pass this onto Andy for sure.
Love his honesty and humor. Thanks for sharing! Sue
@Sue
Thanks!
He is a fabulous little brother and every son should watch this and maybe become more understanding. Hope
@Hope
Yes he is, and yes they should.
Your brother, like you, are survivors with incredible grace, humor and wit. I and my brother have much in common with you and your brother on turning out relatively ‘normal’ under unusual circumstances.
A sense of humor is #1 for getting and maintaining a grip on what is truly important in life.
Jane, I just realized I met your brother 2 years ago at a mini-conference of about 40 people called PresentationCamp LA, organized by Cliff Atkinson. Had no idea until right now that he was your brother. His presentation at PCamp was fabulous. I really enjoyed meeting him.
@Lisa
Thanks for this! Andy is impeccable. I’m so glad to hear it from a non-relative’s perspective. Cool!
Jane, thanks so much for sharing this. Very moving.
@Barbara
I value your comment.
Jane,
I was laughing, I was crying.. Such a humorous brother you have. He’s such a comedian. Your mother was beautiful! You look very much like her.
Wow, your brother has a remarkable talent and the courage to recognize and beautifully articulate the truth that humor, irony, and hardship often go hand-in-hand. He is a brilliant comedian in his ability to be observant and introspective and turn that into solid gold content that resonates universally with anyone who has lived and loved and been part of a family with even one dysfunctional person. Bravo.
@Elizabeth
I agree!
“Meet my Mother.” Priceless. Loved it! Was funny, insightful, sweet, sarcastic, and oh so touching. I just lost my Mom last year and this made me laugh and cry in all of the good ways I wanted to. Thank you, Jane, and thanks to your brother.
– Lisa
@Lisa
I’m so sorry for your loss. And glad that my brother’s humor and insights could touch you so deeply.
I could not have enjoyed this more. I too, had a mother with an indomitable, impossible spirit. Your brother showed me that I could hold all of my feelings for my mom–love, anger, frustration, compassion–in the same place and it’s all okay. Absolutely brilliant.