Katherine Boyle

But I grew up, I always say, had like the most normal 90s Florida childhood.

And in some ways, it's like, that's what I, in some ways, I feel like I want to give my children is that same sort of normal 90s childhood.

But my story really starts with, I always say it starts with my dad.

I came from a family of priests.

My father was born during the Depression, 1931.

And as happens in big Irish Catholic families at that time, poor Irish Catholic families, the smartest kid was always sent off to the priesthood.

So at 17, he joined the Jesuits.

And his dream was he wanted to be a missionary doctor.

He wanted to go to the poorest parts of America across the world, but he also wanted to be a physician.

So he wanted to practice medicine, heal the body, heal the soul.

I sometimes think he would have been very aligned with some of the Maha stuff that's happening today.

But 10 years into the seminary, and this is why it's so important for my life, the seminary in Chicago told him, like, sorry, we don't have the money to send you to medical school.

Sorry, you're just gonna have to be a normal priest.

And he had sort of this life crisis.

What am I going to do?

And he decided to leave.

And I always say, like, that's why I'm sitting here.

Like, if he had stayed, he would have been a very good priest, but I wouldn't be here.

So I'm very grateful he had that crisis of self and decided that his calling for medicine was more important than his calling for God.

But the reason that happened, and the other person I'm really grateful to who just passed away is my Uncle Pat.