A/N I don't own Merle Haggard's song Okie From Muskogee, in doing my research into Vietnam War Era songs, and didn't like the us against them mentality. Because I would have been against the war while not being a druggie. I have a friend who went to a college run by sisters and they did go out to this bar she likes in the 60/70s. I put so much of me in here,because I'm kinda selfish that way, but Margery Kemp is Diana's favorite book, according to Spencer which is why I decided to make her religious, Google the book if interested.

Chapter 5

"Well,here we go again to celebrate this American cultural holiday that can be painful if you disagree with your relatives. Where we are supposed to stuff our faces and not feed the poor, listen to the woman talk about mundane stuff and gossip, while the men sit in the other room discussing the interesting stuff like politics. Do you think they'd hate it if I sat in the corner and read my Hans Kung, Mary Daly and Margery Kemp?" Diana asked her sister as they got ready to leave for their uncle's.

"I feel like your drug dealer Diana, you thrive off that stuff I give you. Are you sure you don't want me to look up some good Catholic grad schools, so you can go be the next Mary Daly?", her sister asked.

"I guess I'm trying to find myself as us young people say today. I like being a liberal and have some views about women that I'm not sure most of the hierarchy agree with. It can be confusing."

"Yes, it can be a lot to handle and sort through, but I think there will always be arguments how to best express Catholicism. No matter what you believe, I will always love you, never disown you like Mom did. Remember that. Just follow your heart."

Their dad knocked on their door.

"Ready ladies?"

"As ready as I'll ever be",said Diana.

As soon as the now Sister Anne walked into her aunt and uncle's modest but cozy home, she felt all eyes on her, well her habit actually.

"The habit it's changed since my sister entered that order. It looks…", Aunt Betty started.

"Very nice and practical, don't you think?" Said the girl's dad.

Diana and Anne smiled at their dad, thinking, "Nice save Dad."

"Diana, has anyone told you you look like Tippi Hedren?" Asked her cousin Mary.

"Well at least the birds aren't going to peck her eyes out" said her cousin Joe as he took a swig of Pabst Blue Ribbon.

"Diana, want to read to me?" Her little ten year old cousin asked.

"Oh, I'd love to Monica."

"Come on, let me show you my room. We have to read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!"

It's just what Diana wanted to do get lost in a good book. Just as they were about to read the fate of Augustus Gloop, Monica asked a question that Diana knew she would be asked today.

"Why did your Mom leave you, does that make her a bad person?"

"Monica, sometimes it is hard for people to make up their minds. Sometimes, people can be so convinced that one way is the way they have to go. Mom believes some things that I and everyone else here think are very silly, but she doesn't, so she went to be with other people who think like she does about the Church."

"You must miss her."

"I do, and every day I pray for her. It's almost time to eat, let's go see if your other cousins are here."

During the dinner conversation it soon turned toward Diana's mother.

"So, you could go see her couldn't you or is it impossible to find her and knock some sense into her?" Asked Diana's uncle Patrick.

" I think that wouldn't be that easy as crazy as we believe these ideas to be,they are real for her. I love my mother dearly,but she is her own person who chose to join this group," said Diana.

" She's right, I love Rita, but I wouldn't drag her out kicking and screaming",said Diana's dad.

"I suppose you are right. You aren't doing anything crazy at college are you, Diana?"

I'm doing some stuff you may disagree with."

"Not protesting are you?"

"I've been to some small gatherings where I've voiced my opinion. There are some Catholics and other Christians who agree with me. I've attended a few meetings, but no protests."

"No drugs or anything, I hope. No burning things."

"No never, but I'm proud to be a Catholic social justice progressive square from Ohio."

"You mocking, Proud to be an Okie from Muskogee?"

"I disagree with how it lumps all protestors together. One can be for burning draft cards and feel free to challenge authority, while seeing themselves as square."

"She sure still is square, I hear she watches Lawrence Welk", declared her aunt Betty.

Diana's face turned beet red. Her male cousins were going to tease her she was sure of it.

"I was thinking of making grasshoppers, anyone want some?" Asked Mary.

"Do you have any Bailey's, instead?" Asked Anne.

"But you are a Sister, Anne…" Declared Aunt Betty.

" Sometimes I will go out to this very classy bar with the other Sisters who are graduate students and professors, the kind where people tend to go, not to get drunk,but to enjoy the atmosphere and each other's company."

"Oh",said her aunt, still not sure what to think of the modernizing changes of Sisters.

"Actually that sounds good. I'll have some if you have it," said Diana's Dad,Walter.

A little while later, the young adult Mcoy's were in the den, while the mothers were in the living room,the men in the basement watching the Cleveland Browns defeat the Detroit Lions, while Monica and her cousin Mary Anne were playing Barbies.

"I'm sorry your Mom left, but I'm also sorry my Dad thinks he knows how to fix everything. He can be a bit of a pest" stated Mary.

"For sure, and I don't care for him treating you like your his daughter. Even if you did do drugs ,what's it to him?"stated Joe.

" I did have a laced brownie, just once, but then I thought why get high when reading, writing, music,prayer and the Eucharist get me happy. And don't tell your Dad, but Jesus wore sandals, had long hair and disagreed with people in authority and he still likes him."

"Groovy, Diana. And I didn't know Sisters drink, that's groovy, Anne" said Joe, laughing at his cousin's remark.

"Well Joe, Jesus did turn water into Wine and he gives himself to us in the appearance of wine, so I don't think he disapproves of an occasional drink." Said Anne.

"You two are fun for a couple of squares"said their cousin Barb, maybe college isn't all that bad she thought.

"Well, I'm glad we can amuse you. This day has been very pleasant and I'd like to thank you young people for keeping me sane" said Diana. The day hadn't turned out to be that bad after all, but she was tempted to pull out her books as soon as the conversation turned to makeup and fashion, but Anne decided to lead them in a game of charades, showing everyone nuns could have fun.