Today we welcome my good friend Ilene, among the kindest, most funny, thoughtful people I know. In part one of her podcast, Ilene shares with us some beautiful stories of growing up in a loving yet complicated family. She talks about the politically-incorrect 'spanky paddle' to hitchhiking mishaps to the reason she locked her brother in the garage. She also generously shares the story of her mother's suicide, and the physical and emotional fallout for herself.  This one is WAY more fun, and funny, than you might think.