It's been a few months since I've even logged on to here. Must be part of the healing to not *need* JWD so much. A good thing I think, but it's still interesting to check back and see what's going on.
I haven't found the info thread yet, but I just got the inkling that they changed the BS "arrangement"? Interesting. But then, I changed my own BS arrangement a couple years ago and just.don't.go. To any of it. Idiots.
I was approached by a somewhat mental, all-foam-no-beer type of JW the other day while waiting for a chick friend to do lunch. She's all like "I sure do miss you." I say "at MEETINGS?" (all incredulous) She says "yeah... [mumble about "truth" and "right"].." I told her "I am NEVER going back to that crap and there isn't enough time in a day to tell you why" She looked at me kinda dumb (see above comment about all-foam) and I straight out said "It's a cult, Noreen. It's f*cked up." and walked off before I got too frustrated with a brainwashed drone to whom I could make no progress anyway.... It did feel kinda good dropping an f-bomb on a JW. haha
And onto happier news -- I'm getting married in three months! I was somewhat proposed to December 30th (he showed me a printout of my ring and said "it'll be here Wednesday"... uh... ok. No down-on-one-knee, that one! LOL), so the last few months have been filled with silk vs real flowers, ribbons, organza, dress-shopping, pearls, blue garters, lime green ink and monograms. Ahhh, I love this! We're having an outdoor ceremony on August 8th with about 30 family and friends. Then a big partay shebang on the 23rd. We wanted 8-8-08 but since a Friday would be hard for out of towners, we're having the reception on a Sat and the first available was then. So... My invite list is out of control and I'm almost hoping for a 50-75% return on the 460+ that are on the list. eek.
My ex is a hypocritical JW still and my poor kids are catching on. They're 10, 12 and 14 and smart. They see and smell ("mom, papa came in three times after being outside and he smelled like those icky black cigarettes. Why doesn't he just TELL us he smokes?!") his double life and it bugs them that he tells them to 'be good' and all that JW conforming crap, yet he's doing many things contrary. I guess the good things about him being like that is that they see just how f'd up that whole JW thing is and it also opens them up to and with me. When they tell me about yet another of his double-life things, I tell them that they can ask me anything and that I have no (well, relatively speaking) secrets. So it's brought us closer -- serendipity. And interesting thing my oldest said the other day was that she thinks that the reason the JWs around town are so weird towards my kids is that they know they're (my kids and myself) are having fun and enjoying life and they (JWs) aren't and don't get to. Nailed that one, kid.
The kids are mostly ok with my impending marriage. He has no kids of his own and jumping into the Weird Years, so there's been a few trials here and there. We all want it to work and go as smooth as possible, yet are realistic enough to know there will be bumps. So we talk a lot and work stuff out and move on to the next change.
So that there folks is my little rambly update. Hopefully all of you are finding peace as well, one way or another.
~merfi