What did I say about being a meme whore...

Yoinked from the journal of new friend *waves* katyscarlett76, it's the A-Z Meme! Which means I get to talk about myself and pretend that it's a fun game for you all to enjoy! Whee!

( WARNING: Slap-happiness ahead! )

ETA this story:

I just had to come back and add this amusing and perplexing story from today:

I was talking to one of my favorite students, Max, who is 13. He is African American and lives in Detroit, and his family is rather involved in their church. He just transferred this year from a school run by his church to a private school in Birmingham, which has a large Jewish population. The week before he had gone to a classmate's Bat Mitzvah, and asked me if I knew what it was. I said I did, and he asked me if I was Jewish. I told him I wasn't.

Max: Do you want to be Jewish?
Me: *laughing* No, I'm rather happy without a religion.
Max: Oh, so you're an atheist?

I was surprised he knew that word, and a little nervous he brought it up, since I knew his family was religious and it can be a touchy subject. However, his mother and I get along very well, and we always chat when she comes in, and why shouldn't I be honest? So I told him yes, I'm an atheist. He then had a perplexing series of questions:

Max: So you don't get to celebrate your birthday?

I think he had atheists confused with Jehovah's Witnesses! I explained that yes, I get to celebrate my birthday, as it's not a religious holiday. (And really, I celebrate religious holidays, too; I'm not really limited to the secular ones only!) He then asked if I was allowed to have a Sweet 16. I explained that wasn't religious either, and I COULD have had a Sweet 16 party, but I didn't, because I was very shy when I was 16 and didn't want one.

It's so funny the ideas kids get into their heads!