. . . is that everyone in my Chorus class understands it. Meanwhile me and my best friend Katy don't share a second language. Thus, when on the subject of holidays, it's very easy to be eavesdropped on.
I'll elaborate. Today in chorus class the teacher took aside the show choir(think singing+dancing+way too many solos) to practise for the upcoming concert, and left the rest of us to either practice for our solo and ensamble pieces or do homework.
Somehow that led to only me, Katy, a (slightly ditzy)Freshman named Olivia, and a few Seniors that were in the musical being left in the room, no teacher or anything. No, we didn't immediately start a party and set things on fire. Shocking, I know. The Seniors, Lauren and Branden sat in the back of the Soprano section talking, I goofed around with Katy for a while before reading, then looked up and found her missing. Joked with Branden, Katy came back, and we got into a theology debate with each other.
This happens pretty often, actually. Her family's Agnostic, whereas I grew up Lutheran and am now Pagan. We debate the values of different belief systems, comparing them with science, what works best . . . Katy is probably the single most important person I know when it comes to how I shaped my beliefs. She's gotten me to question a lot of the things I wouldn't have otherwise, and I've done the same for her.
So we were talking, and Olivia was sitting behind us, doodling on an old math worksheet and asked what the difference between Agnostic and Atheist is. Katy gave a . . . snappish answer, for her, and I translated it into normal human speech. Olivia nodded, and we both thought that was that, and went back to ignoring the world around us. Well, I made a snarky comment about 'it takes two' to create a universe, and Olivia breaks in again. 'Oh . . . so you're Pagan?'
Janie needs to learn to pay attention to her surrounding, yes she does. At that point, I froze for a second and looked around the room - Olivia, Lauren, and Branden had been listening to out conversation. Greeeaat. Just wonderful. At any rate, I nodded, and went back to talking to Katy, in a slightly more subdued voice, mentioning to the three of them that, as far as anyone in my family knows the most I am is Agnostic, or else a really, really bad Christian. (I ask too many questions, apparently. Where's my childlike faith and all that? Out. The. Window.)
I am so, so glad that no one freaked out - I half expected Lauren to, since she's very preach-y about Jesus. As it is, she just gave me a pitying look and went on talking to Branden.
I think I'll buy a zipper to attach to my lips when my family goes to the local base tomorrow.
- Janie L.
Post Script: I've figured out exactly how I'll come out to my parents: My first Christmas out of the house, I'll stay either on campus or on base, depending on if I join up or not, and I'll send my parents and sister two things for all of them One will be an envelope, marked '#1' and inside will be a letter saying that I'm not Christian, and if they aren't okay with that, don't open the second package. Just . . . burn it, or something. The second package will hold a copy of 'When Someone You Loves is Wiccan' and 'Buckland's Complete Guide to Witchcraft' along with the web address for this blog.
Meanwhile I'll be across the country or at least not in the area to see the reaction. Cowardly, but I think I'll stick with it. *strained smile*
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