You know how it goes right? When people decide something about you and its so firmly cemented that reality and time can do nothing to dislodge it? Well a friend of mine, Gail, has categorised me just like that. She has me in the 'Catholic club'.
To be fair It's true, I was raised a Roman Catholic, but despite me seeing the hypocrisy of Religion and at the tender age of ten turned my back on it by refusing to be confirmed, Gail still sees my parent's child rearing beliefs as merged with my own.
She's not a terribly close friend and for the major part I don't mind too much. Who wouldn't enjoy being the muse of someone's amusing stories? As i point out often to Gail, I'm the giving sort and care in the community isn't a political stance its a lifestyle choice.
We have on a few occasions spoken about the bizarre rituals of Catholicism and chuckled heartily about them together - always with the codicil added by Gail of 'you Catholics are weird' leaving me yet again in no doubt that my denunciation of my parent's religion doesn't get me off the hook that easily or even at all.
This in mind, I wasn't surprised when we met for tea and Gail started regaling me of her recent encounter of the Catholic Kind. She had sad cause to attend a Catholic funeral. I think from the way she started the story, she was slightly impressed by the pomp and circumstance, that the ceremony was a very fitting end to a live well lived. Who wouldn't be delighted by a 'grand send off'? However, as she continued her storied it seems that brevity of grand send offs is better than long ones and Gail got bored.
So I was expecting 'yadda yadda yadda' followed by 'gripe gripe gripe'.. but to my utter surprise she said' You Catholics turned out to be friendlier than I thought'. And then stopped and smiled as if I'd understand her meaning.
I didn't. When I didn't smile back with understanding she looked a bit irritated and explained. 'You know the bit where you all stand up and introduce yourself to everyone', she insisted.
Nope. I've no idea what you're talking about I confessed. To which she spun me a wilting glare. 'You know.. the part in the service when you shake everyone's hand and say 'pleased to meet you'... 'pleased to meet you'....
ah .... I said quietly, swallowing down a fit of laughter. "You mean the part when you shake everyone's had and say 'peace be with you'?"
Oh joy, what followed was a delightful panic as realisation dawned that she'd mid-funeral been saying the wrong thing to the throngs of Catholics around her, mourning their loved one.
Try as I might to assure her that I was sure they all appreciated the smiles under the circumstances she is convinced that she ruined the service! Best part was when she stopped panicking, exonerated herself with a simple 'You Catholics!'
To be fair It's true, I was raised a Roman Catholic, but despite me seeing the hypocrisy of Religion and at the tender age of ten turned my back on it by refusing to be confirmed, Gail still sees my parent's child rearing beliefs as merged with my own.
She's not a terribly close friend and for the major part I don't mind too much. Who wouldn't enjoy being the muse of someone's amusing stories? As i point out often to Gail, I'm the giving sort and care in the community isn't a political stance its a lifestyle choice.
We have on a few occasions spoken about the bizarre rituals of Catholicism and chuckled heartily about them together - always with the codicil added by Gail of 'you Catholics are weird' leaving me yet again in no doubt that my denunciation of my parent's religion doesn't get me off the hook that easily or even at all.
This in mind, I wasn't surprised when we met for tea and Gail started regaling me of her recent encounter of the Catholic Kind. She had sad cause to attend a Catholic funeral. I think from the way she started the story, she was slightly impressed by the pomp and circumstance, that the ceremony was a very fitting end to a live well lived. Who wouldn't be delighted by a 'grand send off'? However, as she continued her storied it seems that brevity of grand send offs is better than long ones and Gail got bored.
So I was expecting 'yadda yadda yadda' followed by 'gripe gripe gripe'.. but to my utter surprise she said' You Catholics turned out to be friendlier than I thought'. And then stopped and smiled as if I'd understand her meaning.
I didn't. When I didn't smile back with understanding she looked a bit irritated and explained. 'You know the bit where you all stand up and introduce yourself to everyone', she insisted.
Nope. I've no idea what you're talking about I confessed. To which she spun me a wilting glare. 'You know.. the part in the service when you shake everyone's hand and say 'pleased to meet you'... 'pleased to meet you'....
ah .... I said quietly, swallowing down a fit of laughter. "You mean the part when you shake everyone's had and say 'peace be with you'?"
Oh joy, what followed was a delightful panic as realisation dawned that she'd mid-funeral been saying the wrong thing to the throngs of Catholics around her, mourning their loved one.
Try as I might to assure her that I was sure they all appreciated the smiles under the circumstances she is convinced that she ruined the service! Best part was when she stopped panicking, exonerated herself with a simple 'You Catholics!'
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