1 00:00:41,310 --> 00:00:46,299 Suze: July 7th 2024. Welcome everybody to the Women and Money 2 00:00:46,310 --> 00:00:51,150 Suze: podcast as well as everybody smart enough to listen, Suze 3 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:55,330 Suze: O here. Now, I know today is supposed to be 4 00:00:55,340 --> 00:00:57,049 Suze: Suze School, 5 00:00:57,970 --> 00:01:03,709 Suze: but I just can't. Not today today. I want it 6 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:07,029 Suze: to be a Suze Story Day 7 00:01:07,930 --> 00:01:12,309 Suze: and this Suze story started all the way back in 8 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:14,430 Suze: 1969 9 00:01:15,260 --> 00:01:20,290 Suze: when I walked in to the Florida Avenue Residency in 10 00:01:20,300 --> 00:01:24,360 Suze: Champaign Illinois for my freshman year of college. 11 00:01:25,279 --> 00:01:28,790 Suze: And that day I met two women, 12 00:01:29,559 --> 00:01:33,069 Suze: one by the name of Carol Morgan and her roommate 13 00:01:33,309 --> 00:01:36,518 Suze: by the name of Judy Jacqueline. 14 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:40,860 Suze: And we all became very good friends. 15 00:01:41,550 --> 00:01:45,639 Suze: But the Florida Avenue Residency where we all were living 16 00:01:45,690 --> 00:01:49,010 Suze: because it was mandatory that you live in a dormitory, 17 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:53,989 Suze: especially your freshman year was really too expensive for any 18 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,250 Suze: of us. So we got permission 19 00:01:57,919 --> 00:02:03,750 Suze: to move out of the dormitory into our own apartment 20 00:02:03,910 --> 00:02:09,740 Suze: that was at 777 Springfield Avenue and it was a 21 00:02:09,750 --> 00:02:17,100 Suze: very small one bedroom apartment that had three single beds 22 00:02:17,110 --> 00:02:21,059 Suze: in it. Now, what I didn't realize was that along 23 00:02:21,070 --> 00:02:21,929 Suze: with Carol 24 00:02:22,758 --> 00:02:29,579 Suze: and Judy came Judy's boyfriend by the name of John Belushi. 25 00:02:30,369 --> 00:02:34,940 Suze: And the four of us stayed in that one bedroom 26 00:02:34,949 --> 00:02:37,660 Suze: apartment for one year. 27 00:02:38,380 --> 00:02:43,440 Suze: The second year we moved to a two bedroom apartment 28 00:02:43,710 --> 00:02:47,160 Suze: somewhere on Green Street. I can't remember the exact address 29 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:51,559 Suze: but Judy, John and myself shared one bedroom 30 00:02:52,288 --> 00:02:57,270 Suze: and Carol got another roommate Janet and they shared the 31 00:02:57,279 --> 00:02:58,470 Suze: other bedroom 32 00:02:59,169 --> 00:03:01,800 Suze: and it went on like this, we would move to 33 00:03:01,809 --> 00:03:06,008 Suze: different places, but we always lived together 34 00:03:06,729 --> 00:03:13,070 Suze: and we became incredibly close as time went on. We 35 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:19,829 Suze: obviously graduated college and Judy and John started to become 36 00:03:19,839 --> 00:03:25,228 Suze: more and more famous. They would appear at coffee houses, 37 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:30,350 Suze: all kinds of places. But then John made the leap 38 00:03:31,279 --> 00:03:36,300 Suze: to a television show by the name of Saturday Night Live. 39 00:03:37,190 --> 00:03:39,690 Suze: But even during that time, 40 00:03:40,449 --> 00:03:45,639 Suze: Judy and I totally stayed connected, you know, a funny 41 00:03:45,649 --> 00:03:47,820 Suze: part of this is is that when we were first 42 00:03:47,830 --> 00:03:52,440 Suze: living together, truthfully, I would say to Judy, Judy, I 43 00:03:52,449 --> 00:03:55,600 Suze: am telling you don't marry him. I'm not exactly sure 44 00:03:55,610 --> 00:03:58,550 Suze: John is ever going to amount to anything. 45 00:03:59,539 --> 00:04:01,759 Suze: Well, that gives you an idea if you should follow 46 00:04:01,770 --> 00:04:04,320 Suze: any of my stock picks or not. But thats besides 47 00:04:04,330 --> 00:04:04,809 Suze: the point. 48 00:04:05,850 --> 00:04:10,779 Suze: But there we were they were getting more and more famous, 49 00:04:10,789 --> 00:04:16,738 Suze: but fame did not come between us on any level. 50 00:04:16,959 --> 00:04:19,630 Suze: They were always calling me saying, Suze, you gotta tune 51 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:23,299 Suze: in tonight. It's really a funny, funny version that we're 52 00:04:23,309 --> 00:04:27,420 Suze: doing and their life just continued on and to get 53 00:04:27,428 --> 00:04:29,130 Suze: bigger and bigger and bigger. 54 00:04:30,380 --> 00:04:35,659 Suze: But our relationship stayed closer and closer and closer. 55 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:40,920 Suze: Judy in her own write was so brilliant. I can't 56 00:04:40,928 --> 00:04:45,899 Suze: even tell you. And she really was a big force 57 00:04:45,910 --> 00:04:49,769 Suze: behind John Belushi and his success. 58 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:55,500 Suze: She was an art historian major. She was an artist. 59 00:04:55,940 --> 00:05:01,989 Suze: She was a musician. She was so many things, but 60 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:06,140 Suze: most of the attention always went to John, but that 61 00:05:06,149 --> 00:05:07,299 Suze: never kept her down. 62 00:05:07,959 --> 00:05:14,809 Suze: She kept going for it, especially on March 5th, 1982. 63 00:05:15,690 --> 00:05:17,868 Suze: When John died, 64 00:05:18,730 --> 00:05:23,350 Suze: Judy was so strong during those days. She was so 65 00:05:23,359 --> 00:05:27,609 Suze: convinced that things didn't quite happen the way that it 66 00:05:27,619 --> 00:05:31,279 Suze: was being reported and all of us had our doubts 67 00:05:31,290 --> 00:05:35,489 Suze: because we knew John so well that how it was 68 00:05:35,500 --> 00:05:39,149 Suze: being reported isn't how it possibly could have happened his death. 69 00:05:40,029 --> 00:05:42,910 Suze: But she stayed strong and she went on to write 70 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:47,019 Suze: a book and all these other things. And Judy would 71 00:05:47,029 --> 00:05:52,230 Suze: always come to events or performances that mattered to me 72 00:05:52,238 --> 00:05:58,609 Suze: and vice versa. Like she was there, September 15th, 2018 73 00:05:58,619 --> 00:06:02,089 Suze: for my show at the Apollo Theater that was sold 74 00:06:02,100 --> 00:06:05,399 Suze: out and I was there for the Blues Brothers show 75 00:06:05,410 --> 00:06:09,369 Suze: that she put on and all kinds of things 76 00:06:10,769 --> 00:06:14,950 Suze: over the past few years, Judy had gotten ill, 77 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:20,179 Suze: but we stayed in touch obviously all throughout her illness. 78 00:06:20,799 --> 00:06:25,220 Suze: And then it was April 24th 2023 79 00:06:25,890 --> 00:06:30,679 Suze: when Judy finally answered my phone calls and my texts 80 00:06:30,700 --> 00:06:34,299 Suze: because I hadn't heard from her. And I was like, 81 00:06:34,420 --> 00:06:37,190 Suze: why aren't you responding to me? 82 00:06:37,940 --> 00:06:42,200 Suze: And here is the text that she wrote me. She 83 00:06:42,209 --> 00:06:45,760 Suze: said sorry for the delay, but much is going on. 84 00:06:46,390 --> 00:06:51,880 Suze: I am good, a very solid good bordering on great, 85 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:56,200 Suze: but I spend too much time with doctors. But to date, 86 00:06:56,369 --> 00:06:58,869 Suze: I'm tough as nails in. Hanging in. 87 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:03,640 Suze: Here is my best news. We've welcomed two new babies 88 00:07:03,649 --> 00:07:08,700 Suze: to the family. My youngest stepdaughter had an adorable baby girl, 89 00:07:08,709 --> 00:07:13,119 Suze: Olivia in September and my beautiful son and daughter in 90 00:07:13,130 --> 00:07:18,040 Suze: law graced me with a sweet, sweet baby boy Nico 91 00:07:18,089 --> 00:07:22,779 Suze: Yen Pisano who was born on February 10th. So he's 92 00:07:22,790 --> 00:07:26,420 Suze: still a little bag of bones. But watching him observe 93 00:07:26,750 --> 00:07:31,609 Suze: and navigate his way is fascinating. I so love his 94 00:07:31,619 --> 00:07:36,369 Suze: little being going to MD Anderson in Houston this Tuesday 95 00:07:36,429 --> 00:07:40,850 Suze: for testing to see if they have anything new to 96 00:07:40,859 --> 00:07:44,630 Suze: suggest in my quest for the fountain of youth so 97 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:48,750 Suze: much more, but will hold it here for now. And you? 98 00:07:49,170 --> 00:07:50,410 Suze: All my love 99 00:07:51,579 --> 00:07:54,059 Suze: And then I write her back. She sends me all 100 00:07:54,070 --> 00:07:57,239 Suze: these pictures of everybody she just talked about 101 00:07:58,010 --> 00:08:03,230 Suze: and then it was in November, she writes me and 102 00:08:03,239 --> 00:08:07,790 Suze: she says you are looking good meaning me because she 103 00:08:07,799 --> 00:08:11,149 Suze: also knows what I've been through. She says I've been 104 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:13,549 Suze: up and down, but mostly good. 105 00:08:14,070 --> 00:08:19,649 Suze: I'm finally recording my songs. Working with Ben Taylor, a 106 00:08:19,660 --> 00:08:25,000 Suze: very talented fellow and great fun to work with Mom - 107 00:08:25,010 --> 00:08:29,640 Suze: Carly Simon recorded one of my songs, which I must 108 00:08:29,649 --> 00:08:34,130 Suze: say is thrilling. I'm moving a bit slow but making 109 00:08:34,140 --> 00:08:38,000 Suze: progress will share when I have something presentable. 110 00:08:39,229 --> 00:08:44,008 Suze: And then she writes me back and forth and back 111 00:08:44,018 --> 00:08:49,169 Suze: and forth. And finally on December 6th, last year, 112 00:08:49,979 --> 00:08:53,559 Suze: she writes me and she says I have a stubborn 113 00:08:53,570 --> 00:08:59,559 Suze: tumor that's inoperable and positioned and cannot radiate. So I've 114 00:08:59,570 --> 00:09:03,969 Suze: moved on from my medical team and working with meditation 115 00:09:03,979 --> 00:09:04,718 Suze: and prayer. 116 00:09:05,380 --> 00:09:10,200 Suze: I'm mostly pretty good spirits are up and I enjoy 117 00:09:10,210 --> 00:09:14,369 Suze: most days to date. I have made a recording of 118 00:09:14,380 --> 00:09:19,409 Suze: each of my songs. So if I cannot continue, I 119 00:09:19,419 --> 00:09:23,510 Suze: at least have a decent version for posterity. 120 00:09:24,159 --> 00:09:29,390 Suze: My plan is now to rerecord each one. Hopefully to 121 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:33,478 Suze: get a version I am happy with. I also hope 122 00:09:33,489 --> 00:09:38,219 Suze: to have some songs recorded by other Carly, being one. 123 00:09:38,940 --> 00:09:43,700 Suze: I have learned to work sing with my paralyzed vocal chord, 124 00:09:43,929 --> 00:09:48,419 Suze: performed one song at an event this Sunday and it 125 00:09:48,429 --> 00:09:53,039 Suze: went well. My kids are coming for Christmas and other 126 00:09:53,049 --> 00:09:57,478 Suze: than that, my plans are to focus on recording. So 127 00:09:57,489 --> 00:09:59,559 Suze: life is good. 128 00:10:00,359 --> 00:10:03,728 Suze: Here is something to put a smile on your face. 129 00:10:04,070 --> 00:10:07,900 Suze: And with that, she sends me a video of her 130 00:10:07,909 --> 00:10:14,459 Suze: son with his son dancing to a song that Judy 131 00:10:14,469 --> 00:10:15,400 Suze: had written 132 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:19,859 Suze: and I write her back and I go, you know, 133 00:10:19,869 --> 00:10:24,859 Suze: my dear friend, sometimes prayers are the most powerful and 134 00:10:24,869 --> 00:10:31,059 Suze: successful medicine of all. Please make sure that the family 135 00:10:31,229 --> 00:10:35,630 Suze: knows to keep me informed. Just know I'm always here 136 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:38,539 Suze: for you and I love you deeply. 137 00:10:39,309 --> 00:10:43,589 Suze: So then Christmas came and passed and she was still 138 00:10:43,599 --> 00:10:44,809 Suze: doing pretty good 139 00:10:45,659 --> 00:10:49,239 Suze: and we went back and forth and back and forth. 140 00:10:49,890 --> 00:10:52,989 Suze: And then on June 24th, I wrote her and I said, 141 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:55,228 Suze: just checking in on you. You good? 142 00:10:55,929 --> 00:10:57,390 Suze: And June 25th, 143 00:10:58,020 --> 00:11:00,880 Suze: she wrote back and she said, I'm up and down, 144 00:11:00,890 --> 00:11:05,369 Suze: but mostly good. My album is close to being finished. 145 00:11:05,500 --> 00:11:09,630 Suze: We've recorded everyone and now we just have to mix them. 146 00:11:10,090 --> 00:11:14,130 Suze: I've been decoupaging guitars in the meantime, I'll send you 147 00:11:14,140 --> 00:11:15,400 Suze: some photos. 148 00:11:16,039 --> 00:11:21,140 Suze: Then she says, I'm also sending you some songs. 149 00:11:21,820 --> 00:11:27,400 Suze: On June 28th, she sent me one song and she 150 00:11:27,409 --> 00:11:31,000 Suze: said with it, this is not a final edit, but 151 00:11:31,010 --> 00:11:34,599 Suze: the best version I could find for you. This is 152 00:11:34,609 --> 00:11:39,359 Suze: the title song for the album, 'Best Days.' And I 153 00:11:39,369 --> 00:11:40,710 Suze: told her I liked it 154 00:11:41,570 --> 00:11:45,859 Suze: then on June 29th, she wrote me and she said, 155 00:11:45,869 --> 00:11:49,109 Suze: I'm glad you like it. Here's a funny little ditty 156 00:11:49,119 --> 00:11:53,080 Suze: you might enjoy. Not a finished edit. Give me a 157 00:11:53,090 --> 00:11:56,669 Suze: minute to find it. And with that she sent it 158 00:11:56,679 --> 00:12:02,109 Suze: the next day and it was called 'Finger Nails.' And 159 00:12:02,119 --> 00:12:05,469 Suze: she said, I hope you enjoyed it. And I said 160 00:12:05,479 --> 00:12:06,890 Suze: I did. 161 00:12:08,909 --> 00:12:16,390 Suze: And that was my last conversation with Judy because yesterday Judy, 162 00:12:16,570 --> 00:12:17,130 Suze: Jacqueline 163 00:12:18,150 --> 00:12:19,988 Suze: Belushi Pisano 164 00:12:20,969 --> 00:12:22,869 Suze: left this world, 165 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:28,539 Suze: but she left this world, having completed something that she 166 00:12:28,549 --> 00:12:29,939 Suze: really wanted to do, 167 00:12:30,729 --> 00:12:37,030 Suze: she left this world leaving me feeling completed cause we 168 00:12:37,039 --> 00:12:40,069 Suze: continued to talk to one another. 169 00:12:44,900 --> 00:12:49,539 Suze: And we continued our friendship no matter how famous she 170 00:12:49,549 --> 00:12:53,390 Suze: got or John got or I got. The only thing 171 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:58,919 Suze: that mattered was our friendship, not how much money we 172 00:12:58,929 --> 00:13:03,539 Suze: had or anything like that. But our friendship and the 173 00:13:03,549 --> 00:13:07,630 Suze: simplicity of just knowing each other 174 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:11,510 Suze: and growing older with each other. 175 00:13:12,739 --> 00:13:14,209 Suze: So Julie, my friend, 176 00:13:15,090 --> 00:13:15,479 Suze: I, 177 00:13:18,969 --> 00:13:21,859 Suze: I will miss you for ever and a day. 178 00:13:22,669 --> 00:13:26,590 Suze: But I know that you are ready for this, but 179 00:13:26,599 --> 00:13:31,650 Suze: I just wanted to share with my beloved podcast audience 180 00:13:31,820 --> 00:13:35,109 Suze: that you listen to. You loved and you were a 181 00:13:35,119 --> 00:13:40,159 Suze: part of. I just want you to hopefully hear this 182 00:13:40,169 --> 00:13:46,299 Suze: podcast up in heaven. And I want everybody who has 183 00:13:46,309 --> 00:13:51,039 Suze: ever listened to me know how much I love and 184 00:13:51,049 --> 00:13:51,968 Suze: cherish you. 185 00:13:52,859 --> 00:14:00,770 Suze: And that really is the Suze story for July 7th 2024. 186 00:14:01,159 --> 00:14:05,479 Suze: May we never be unstoppable when it comes to the 187 00:14:05,489 --> 00:14:10,989 Suze: love that we have for those who really, really mattered 188 00:14:11,179 --> 00:14:12,739 Suze: in our lives.