Author Archives: supersonicmonica

“Well…That’s not REALLY what those verses mean…” I am FURIOUS. I am LIVID. I am… am… speechless. The words slowly sink in. I wear a long sleeve, high neck red sweater (As in the day of the grassy knoll, I remember exactly what I had on like a Polaroid) a long denim skirt, and boots.Continue reading “Chapter Eight: 180 Degrees of Consternation”

“You’re brainwashed.” Sharp words from my sister. We had escaped Pastor Strict’s draconian church, watching everything we own bouncing around in the back of Pastor Kind’s trailer as we followed behind in our rusty Escort. There’s a reason for every name in this story and honestly, Pastor Kind was SO kind that he literally builtContinue reading “Chapter Seven: Family Matters…Or does it??”

“Sister Monica, you really shouldn’t spend time with Sister Tammy.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “She’s…well, she struggles with her faith, and…” I was tuned out at this point and all I was hearing was the MWA MWAA MWAA of Charlie Brown’s teacher. We had been in Central Illinois for a few months,Continue reading “Chapter Six: That Old Time Religion”

I am SOBBING. Walking down the aisle in my absurdly modest long-sleeved high-necked totally unsexy wedding gown, I want to run, but I can’t. I don’t understand what went wrong, aren’t you supposed to marry your best friend?! Fiancee is an awesome person whom I deeply respect and care for… Why. Isn’t. This. WORKING??! IContinue reading “Trapter Five: The Wedding”

“Sister Monica, I really see you working in a flower shop, or something like that.” I was having a conversation with Pastor Kind about my day job as a hairdresser, I had a rather large clientele, and paid for my own college and apartment. No way could I pay for college if I had aContinue reading “Chapter Four: Stick That Up Your Career”

Jeans, out. Pants, out. Cool zebra leggings (remember this was 1989) out, out, OUT!! Tank tops, out because shoulders are too provocative, the most revealing thing I can wear up top is T shirt sleeve length, and skirts (mandatory) calf length my GOD no knees, please!! I remember owning a calf length skirt with aContinue reading “Chapter Three: The Day the Music Died”

So. Why did I give up my freedom and individuality? How does a sassy aspiring jazz singer with a helluva personality and a foul mouth get caught up in such a hot mess? Let’s backtrack a bit. I was the youngest of 8 in a good Catholic family, evidenced by the 8 kids bit, ofContinue reading “Chapter Two: Things that go Thump in the Basement”

I am sitting in the back seat of Pastor Strict’s black sedan. His wife, all suited up in her floral dress and impressively sized bun resembling the foot tall soft-serve cones from one fantastic place called Belt’s (in Stevens Point and worth the trip), is sitting submissively – and quietly – at his side. IContinue reading “Chapter One. Start Here.”