The virgin birth was so much a part of my Catholic upbringing that I don't remember it being explained. I don't remember anyone in Catholic elementary school asking about it.

My first date with DH#1 was a Chuck Mangione concert. 1972.

Yay trees! I planted a number of Gumbo Limbo trees about 20 some years ago along a main street here. They were scrawny little branches from a large tree. They are big lovely shade trees now. I loves seeing them grow.

You mean, what exactly it means to be a virgin? I don't think we ever got into that in my religious education. You always hear the words, and I guess at some point you know what they mean.

Yeah, I don't remember when they explained it to us. Maybe it was in 8th grade when we had "sex ed" in my Christian school.

I do remember hearing about unwed mothers on tv news when I was in second grade or so - I was thinking, "Is this the same as the virgin Mary giving birth?" (But I didn't ask my parents that question.)

Ooh, and oh yeah, Esther! Esther FASCINATED me for about 2 months when I was about 9. Esther was freaking hot in my illustrated Child's Bible, and I wanted all her cool clothes and jewelry.

And hur, the chick that...Judith! cut of Whazzit's head with a sword. V. popular subject for Rennaissance paintings.

Strangely enough, I remember all the women of the Bible. But Ruth did nothing for me. I am selfish.

cut of Whazzit's head with a sword.

John the Baptist? Let's see - I think Harod's wife just asked for his head, so they gave it to her. Is this something other than what you're thinking of?

Holofernes. I can't belive I remembered that without Googling and I am really proud. Judith chopped off Holofernes' head.

Didn't Salome dance for JtB's head? Was Salome Herod's wife?

Holofernes.

I had to google. I'm certain they never taught us this story.

And hur, the chick that...Judith! cut of Whazzit's head with a sword. V. popular subject for Rennaissance paintings.

Hee. I always liked that story, since my Hebrew name is the Hebrew form of Judith. There's also a very similar story, in the Book of Deborah, of Yael driving a stake through Barak's head.

HAH! YES! SALOME!

I can't believe I am this jazzed about correctly remembering gory Biblical details!

Gramma, you made me sit through church and it was USEFUL!

At some point I connected the Virgin Birth with what it actually meant to be a virgin, but no one actually told us. Also, I thought Joseph married Mary anyway, even though it seemed like she was pregnant with another man's child, because he believed her that it was the son of God?

How bout that Immaculate Conception bit... way to be confusing!