Maureen: It was never a um tradition of going to church on Sundays. That never happened for me…
Mallory: Right.
Maureen: Um, and - however in Ogdensburg, I remember one time sitting on the back porch steps and um it was in the summer. And I remember seeing my mother walking on the side walk and I could see- I was in the back yard and I could look over and there was a fence that divided our two yards. It was my yard and there was another yard and then the sidewalk.
Mallory: Hmm.
Maureen: I remember seeing my mother walking in a nice green suit, skirt, jacket- suit, walking away – and I remember asking my father, “Where is mom going?” and he said to Church. And I said, “Well I want to go.” You know – I don’t want to stay here; I want to go because I see my mother. And I- in my mind in my memory- so, I must be, you know either kindergarten, first grade, or second grade.
Mallory: Hmm.
Maureen: Um running around the corner and running up to meet with her and I believe our discussion was [Laugh] no you’re not going but I will be back things like that and it’s okay – but I just remember she was going to church and I wanted to go with her. Um but I don’t believe I did. [Laughs]
Mallory: [Laughs] Yeah.
Maureen: Well you know the good memories I suppose is just that being united, I guess, in a place together with people – I think that we all – when anyone walks into the church I think that there is goodness that exists -
Mallory: Yeah.
Maureen: You know people are all in the same mind frame that you know we are doing a good thing here, we all belong, um we are following something, believing in something – so that, you know the solidness of that thought –
Mallory: Is just we’re all a part of something-
Maureen: You can embrace. – Yeah, you know that I can appreciate. Um and like, it’s funny like even in my – I mean I will just fast forward a little bit like- in my- it’s funny when you go through an experience like your marriage is ending or breaking or you’re going through a divorce that type of thing – it’s funny sometimes how you think- and I wasn’t one that was raised in a religious home.
Mallory: Hmm.
Maureen: But I felt at times I need to go to the church and just be there.
Mallory: Yeah.
Maureen: And why that thought would come to me I don’t know. You know, so sometimes I uh didn’t go but you know sometimes – I knew – I was drawn there. I remember one Christmas Eve, actually I think it was uh- not this past Christmas but the Christmas even before - I did go to a uh midnight mass and it was very good to be there. And a lot of what moves you is the good words and the music you know. And it’s very much- that was emotional for me- that moved me um at that time in my life. Because you feel lost- you know, of what you knew in life- was changed so much. So I think sometimes this idea of this togetherness is helpful.
Mallory: Yeah kind of like a piece of- like a place where you go to get a piece of mind-
Maureen: Yeah-
Mallory: Something that never changed that you always kind of knew.
Maureen: Right, you know. Even though I wasn’t a part of it – I wasn’t practicing it but I knew that I could be accepted and not you know- and- not beat up a log here – the doors open - yes, I could through and be there. And no one bothered me and I didn’t bother them; it was just, you know, it’s okay to be here.
Mallory: Yeah.
Maureen: So that- that’s a nice feeling that’s what’s good I think about religion.
Mallory: Yeah.