A Catholic moves to the biblebelt.

Sounds like the start of a joke.  Feels like the start of a lonely existence. 

I finally shared with the "Bible and Babies" group that I was a practicing catholic.  Well, the leader, at least.  I said, "My son stole a McDs race car from your house.  Oh, and since we are being honest, I'm catholic."  She said, "Haha, I don't get it."

So, then I had to explain that I was in fact, catholic.  It was not a joke.  She said, "I still love you, girl friend."  (actually how they talk down here with a thick slow southern accent)  And  I replied, "Thanks, I am actually more afraid of you wanting to "save" me."

Long silence with a sweet smiling southern woman.

 I am not sure if she didn't get it, or thought, "well, of course, I'm going to try to save you.  Didn't you hear me say I I love you?  That's what we do to Catholics we love, y'all."

So, avoiding discussing I was Catholic for a year seems much more difficult than dealing with the rejection or feeling of contamination when admitting to it from the get-go.

And, yes I said "admitting to it."  It's become like virginity here in the south.  I was proud to be a virgin, but oh, the cringe I felt when someone asked me!  It was bad enough Freshman year when they sang "Goody two, goody two, goody goody two shoes.  Don't drink.  Don't smoke.  What do you do?"  Instead of wanting to retreat head first into my neck, I should have replied, "Give your drunk a__ home."  But, I am pretty sure I I'm opted for neither and taking the easy way out by turning red and smiling as if I got the joke and was honored he would sing to me.  Ugh.  Here I am again.  Becoming mute in the corner.  Stumbling over my words so I don't tell them I went to mass.  Fishing in my purse for my keys in the dark hoping rosary does not make an detectable noise.  But this time I am 34.  I have two kids.

I have two kids.

I have two kids I raise int he Catholic Christian faith.

I have two kids I raise in the Catholic Christian faith that had two playdates canceled after two separate, unrelated people found out we were Catholic. 

I have two kids I raise in the Catholic Christian faith that had two playdates canceled after two separate, unrelated people found out we were catholic.  And one "Catholic" friend decided our kids could not be PenPals because we were not Catholic enough.

I have two kids I want to protect, but I am not sure how and who against.  It's fairly frustrating.  And lonely. And I don't think we have enough money to fit in with half the Catholic population or enough kids to fit in with the other half.

Here I sit on my island of Catholicism.  But I have Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit, Mary, the angels and not to mention the giant Communion of Saints!  So take that elitist Protties and holier than though Catholics.  You have not left me alone, but with more reason to draw closer to my other family.

A Catholic moves to the Biblebelt and finds strength.