One weird byproduct of having my vocation status "outed" by the local paper a few months ago is having complete strangers ask me if it's true I'm becoming a nun. I give you the tail end of an actual phone conversation I had today. Keep in mind, this is someone I've never met who had some questions about one of the City programs I administer.
Caller: Thanks for the info … by the way, is it true that you're leaving the City?
Me: Yes it is.
Caller: When is your last day?
Me: August 18th.
Caller: So … is it true that you're leaving to join the nunnery?
Me: [Brief pause trying to figure out what to say to that] Yes, I am leaving the City to become a Catholic Sister.
Caller: 'Catholic Sister' eh? So it's not called a nunnery?
Me: [Decide to give him the real scoop since he asked] Well, while convents were called nunneries in the middle ages, they're not really called that any more. Of course many people think so.
Caller: So … where do you go when you leave the City?
Me: Well, the community of Sisters I'm joining are mostly in the Seattle area, but I'll be heading to New Jersey for a couple of years for the period of training and reflection. [Decided not to confuse him by introducing the new term "novitiate". Plus, I was more than ready for this conversation to be over].
Caller: Two years … wow, that's a big commitment. Have you ever been to New Jersey?
At this point I tried and succeeded to wind the call down.
One big benefit of leaving the City entirely next month will be no longer having complete strangers ask me if I'm joining a nunnery. I try to answer politely as I know they are really just extremely curious. But it gets annoying.
Today is my last day in my cubicle of 8 years. New guy starts Monday, and I'm going to be a migrant worker (using the offices of those on vacation) while I'm training him for the next month. A sad yet happy moment!
8 comments:
Hi Susan,
I hope you take a moment to say goodbye to your cubicle. I find it hard to leave places sometimes, even cubicles, until I remember that what is important about that space will always be inside me.
happy transitioning...
Trish
As Hamlet said:
Get thee to a nunnery!
(couldn't resist)
At least they don't keep asking you if you're leaving to be a stripper.
'If you wish to talk to Susan about business, press 1.'
'If you wish to talk to Susan about becoming a nun, press 2.'
You're a celebrity - get you out of there!
Susan I think is not easy to handle this kind of situations and be regarded as a kind of exotic curiosity.:-).
In few months you will only laugh looking back and what today is un-pleasant to morrow will be only funny.:-)
Peace
Ummmm, Susan? Perhaps you don't quite get the picture. You think leaving the City will prevent random strangers from asking you nun-questions? And what, pray tell, do you think introducing yourself as "Sister" will do?!?!?
Point well taken Steph. Hmmm.... suppose I've got lots to get used to!
I so know how that goes. My family thought I was joining some sort of cult, when I was becoming a Benedictine oblate.
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