Living Out Loud

Jane Sweeney, with humor and candor, tells her story of growing in the fifties, and coming of age in the sixties when she got a college education for $54 per semester, and worked as an Indian maiden at Disneyland. She also tells of the death her mother when Jane was 34, and how it led her to a career in hospice, an unknown movement in the 80's dealing with the AIDS epidemic and learning how to cope with grief and loss from Elisabeth Kugler-Ross. Her three grown kids are her greatest joy, and some of her best teachers. An enduring love of animals and her incredible adventures with have taught her life changing lessons as well. There are hilarious stories of riding Zorro's horse, being a test model dummy on Disneyland rides, and becoming a funeral director for large animals. Don't mis this book, it will have you laughing and crying and learning!

Jane Sweeney tells her life story with humor and candor. She grew up in the fifties in what Johnny Carson called "beautiful downtown Burbank." Her parents were alcoholics, whose fights taught her never to argue with someone - it gets ugly. To protect herself she hid under the bed with their cat, Skunky, beginning her life long love of animals. She tells of riding around and listening to the Beach Boys in her husband -to- be's '56 Chevy. Gas was 29 cents a gallon. Her mother's death in 1980, when Jane was a 34 year old mom of three was a turning point. She became a volunteer in hospice, a new movement in the U.S. Jane went on to become a hospice director, and returned to school to get her Master's degree in Counseling Psychology, where she focused her studies on grief and loss. Jane's career in hospice spanned the AIDS epidemic, and she learned her greatest lessons in grief and loss from renowned psychiatrist, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. Following her retirement she focused her attention on adapting to life in the country. She and husband Tom moved to the smallest county in California, Alpine, population 1100. She started rescuing animals - horses, cats and dogs. Great adventures ensued. Jane tells a story of following your passions wherever they lead you. In Living out Loud she advises us to live with authenticity and to take the road less travelled.

Jane Sweeney was born in the first year of the baby boom, 1946. Her early recollections are of her mom, school, and animals. She soon found her academic prowess was her greatest asset. Turbulent times lay ahead, not the least of which was her parents' marriage. Jane learned to cope with her parents' alcoholic interactions by hiding under the bed with the cat, and reading a lot. She went on to become a hospice director prompted by her mother's death when Jane was 34. She learned to deal with life by telling her stories with humor. People would listen to you if what you were saying was funny and she needed to be heard.