We've been members of our lovely, quite orthodox parish for less than two years. It's a big parish and we have a long way to go before we know many of the people in the pews by name.
Occasionally, someone will ask us where we're from. I'll say, "Ohio." And so far, almost invariably, the follow-up question is:
Oh! Did you meet at Steubenville?
It makes me laugh. I love it. I love that when we say Ohio our fellow-parishioners think Steubenville. They're thinking, of course, of the Franciscan University of Steubenville, which has many things to recommend it, but not, sadly, an engineering program.
Steubenville is well-known for being a cradle of faith. Probably one of the top Catholic colleges in the country, when it comes to that specific aspect. A quick peek at the Campus Life section of their website will show that.
I haven't, yet, answered No, actually, he lived three doors down in the co-ed dorm at Ohio State. The first time he spoke to me, he was offering me a shot of tequila at eleven o'clock in the morning.
Maybe one of these days I will, if I'm feeling ornery.
UPDATE: Jen Ambrose just about offers me money to try. Amy weighs in, in her comments: "Actually, the truth sounds very Catholic to me."
Actually, that sounds like an interesting story... And I say that as one who met her husband at Steubenville. At a freshman mixer dance. Your tale sounds more dramatic.
We attend a large family-friendly parish, and I've seen lots of people who seem like they'd be nice to know, but I have a hard time overcoming my reluctance to go up to some stranger and say, "Hi! I'm MrsDarwin! You have a lovely family and you seem like a mannerly, hygenic person and I like your fashion sense. Would you care to enter into discussion so that I can gauge whether you'd be worth cultivating as an acquaintance?" In so many words, that is.
Posted by: mrsdarwin | 27 August 2006 at 07:12 PM
Ah yes, MrsDarwin, that is the tough part, isn't it.
We have some friends who have a better system: They invite people to dinner. Don't ask me why, but I'm afraid to do that.
Posted by: bearing | 28 August 2006 at 02:47 PM
It's not that I object to inviting people to dinner, but one can scarcely ask someone to dinner when you haven't been introduced. And I suppose I should just introduce myself, but it seems vaguely creepy to just walk up to someone and start talking to her. I like to wait for some kind of situation in which it seems logical to strike up a conversation and then make my move. The problem, I suppose, is when no situation presents itself and so you never meet nice family with the pregnant mom and the daughter who is just the right age. Oh well.
Posted by: mrsdarwin | 28 August 2006 at 08:10 PM