What interesting memories! I can see why they are all memorable. I was raised Catholic, but I do know that "alien" feeling. My mom had gone to Catholic schools, but chose not to send my sibs and me (partly because of the cost, partly because the local public elementary was literally two doors away from us). But we had to attend Sunday morning religion classes (CCD, it was called then -- Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) -- and while most of the nuns were very kind, some of them did not approve AT ALL of Catholic kids who did not go to Catholic schools. I've never forgotten the terror they could inspire /g/.