I haven’t been responding to many posts lately, I’ve sort of had my hands full.
I haven't been to the meetings in about 4-1/2 months - my mother has had two strokes and been in the hospital and doing rehab. (Before that I was occasionally going in order to bring her to the hall, my mother is in her 80s and the dubs are her only social outlet. No one has a clue that I’ve had my “eyes opened” about the borg.) After a couple of token visits to her by a couple of the elders, I haven't heard a thing from them. Fortunately, I had already disconnected from the borg (thanks in large part to this place ) so wasn't exactly devastated by the overwhelming apathy. (I have to say that some of the rank and file dubs have been wonderful and caring - isn't that usually the way it is?)
Now my mother is home and a couple of the JWs who have helped me out are aware of that fact, so low and behold! I get a call from one of the elders on Saturday and then another one drops by the next day. So very solicitous of them, wanting to visit my mother like that (of course, we live all of about 2 minutes from both of them )
When elder #1 asked me what I was doing about the meetings I said "well, you know I speak Spanish, and their meetings are on different days than ours". Which is the truth. And which doesn’t make any sense at all as an answer. It doesn't mean anything about my meeting attendance but a non-answer is as good as any other answer, so he took the bait and said "oh, yes of course, well that's good." Then I said: "Frankly, I haven't heard much of anything from the elders during all this time, it would have been good to have some help." Elder #1: "Oh well, I appreciate your mentioning that. We're going to be bringing that up at the elders' meeting." Yeah, right.
Then he asked about dropping by to see my mother (since he and his wife were coming by our way anyway ). I told him that she was napping (the truth) and that it's necessary to call beforehand to see how she's feeling before seeing her.
Then the same weekend Elder #2 rings the bell, as he's walking by my house to get to his house (don't want to go out of our way now, do we?) Asks to see my mum. She's napping (bless her soul). I tell him to phone beforehand. He then tells me that the elders are meeting because of the C.O.'s visit and that they'll see what can be done to help my mother. Ah ha, yes, now it's clear, put on a show for the C.O. He asks about the meetings. I give him the same non-answer. Then I say, “maybe I’ll switch my publisher card over to Spanish.” “Well, you can keep your card here for now.” (I’ve been handing in fake time reports for a year! I love helping to distort their precious annual report.) Of course they want my card here, it wouldn’t look good just before the C.O. visits, would he ask why the daughter of an elderly, infirm sister has to attend another congregation when an English one is five minutes away?
Anyhow, I haven’t heard from them - no phone calls to visit my mother, no help organized (I gave them a time limit otherwise I’d have to arrange for her to attend a seniors day center with horrible worldly people - a nurse, a physiotherapist, as well as loads of activities and outings ). Well, I ain’t holding my breath and in a way I’m relieved they’ve been a no-show, otherwise I might feel obligated to get my mother to a meeting or two ’cause she’d want to see everyone. As it is, with her memory problems, things are starting to fade, and I have no intention of helping her reminisce about meetings and conventions and whatnot.
Just thought I’d give you an update!