Nuns--where have you been all my life?

I must admit that one of the main things that aroused my long-latent interest in the Catholic church several years ago was watching Audrey Hepburn in the old movie "The Nun's Story". Now technically, as I have since learned, Audrey was portraying a religious sister, with an active nursing apostolate, rather than a nun, who would be committed to a contemplative life of prayer and enclosure.  But, be that as it may, most people use the terms interchangeably, even many Catholics. 

At any rate, I recall thinking that the life of being dedicated to God's service, a peaceful life of prayer, structure, and spiritual growth, sounded right up my alley.  Had I only become a Catholic oh, say, thirty years earlier, I might have very well trod that path, though whether or not it would have worked for me in the long run, we shall never know.  

Now, please understand--I love my children and my husband very much, and am not looking to trade them in for a nice Dominican habit even if I could--though I do love the look of those habits! But I do at times wish for the peace and the Christ-centered existence of contemplative orders.  I wish we had more young ones with vocations--it seems that the orders that have retained some of the pre Vatican II ways--full habits, living in community, etc--are attracting more young people than those that have modernized.  What do you guys think?

Nashville Dominicans' class of postulants--a thriving, traditional order.

Audrey Hepburn in The Nun's Story