HeadSpin

So Medieval Feast is over (pictures to be posted in the next few days). All three nights were very well attended (kudos to Eric and my sister for coming out) and the STMSU actually made money from the event. There were no really serious injuries if you don’t count someone (the Viking who fought Loki with the double axes) who got his finger caught between a sword and an axe (not quite as bad as it sounds, it was the flat of the sword). I’m currently experiencing the spinning craziness that occurs after the excitement (and subsequent letdown) of a stage production and the accompanying after-parties.

My headspin is compounded by the fact I’m fairly certain a member of the cast has expressed a romantic interest in me (as you know, not exactly a common occurrence). The evidence: kisses me on the cheek while we’re striking the set and then says “that wasn’t entirely the beer”. Seeing as how she’d only had half of one beer at the time a lack of alcoholic influence seems certain. At the after-party (at BR’s) we watched two Viking movies, which she general spent snuggled up against me and at one point remarked “you make a good pillow”. Taken alone I’d just chalk this up to an affectionate personality, but in combination with the kiss on the cheek I’m led to believe there’s more to it than that.

I know I definitely like her. She seems interesting (majoring in technical theatre, prop design and such, sews super-well, is in the navy), intelligent, and funny. She’s almost always smiling, and she has bright eyes. And yes, she’s attractive. The problem is that she’s not Catholic (she’s United). I know it may sound stupid but my one basic criterion for dating (or rather for choosing who to date) is that I don’t already know I would never marry the person. Essentially, I don’t want to start a terminal relationship that’s doomed from the start. There’s no point in setting yourself up for problems later. For me the entire purpose of dating is to try and find someone you want to share the rest of your life with. The relationship might be fine for a year or two, but eventually it will become a real issue. I don’t know many examples where it hasn’t been.

I’ll never marry a non-Catholic because I can’t even imagine not being able to share my faith with the most important person in my life. There’d be this huge hole in the relationship. My great-grandmother had a saying. When a husband and wife have different faiths the devil sleeps between them. Also, and just as important, I want to raise my children in a Catholic home, with no confusion as to what their faith is about. I do have a couple uncles who dated and married non-Catholics. However, both of my aunts converted to the faith before the ceremony (though not in any way as a condition of the marriage) and are now strong Catholics. Of course, one of them was Lutheran, which hardly counts, but one of them was United.

I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to make an ill-considered or rash decision simply because I’m lonely. Advice/support will be very much appreciated.