Brief history:
I was a born in. My parents were uber-dubs, but never worshipped the organization. It was always about Jehovah, Jesus, and the brothers. In other words; my parents are real christians. My father was an elder for years until we moved and he was persecuted for professing to be of the annointed.
I faded in my thirties and moved to another state. Two years after I invited my parents out to visit my family and I. It ended in a train wreck because my father tried guilting with the scriptures to get us to go back. After my parents left I believe I spoke to my father twice on the phone. Both times it was Memorial week and his tone was that of a Witness trying to encourage an inactive Witness to go back. That was 2010. We never spoke again...until recently.
My father has called me twice in the past two months. Each time he never spoke once about Witnesses, the Bible, religion, or anything related. He simply wanted to talk. He wanted to know how my family was doing. He asked me to e-mail photos of my kids.
I was floored. I believe in his old age he is realizing that family is more important that a publishing company in New York. I'm sure the recent changes in the religion have had some effect on him. How could they not? Since day one in the religion my father professed to be of the annointed, making him part of the Faithful and Discreet Slave Class and now he's just rank and file. Don't misunderstand me; he never boasted of this or expected special treatment. In fact, he was always very humble about of the subject. I didn't even know until a friend's mother told me when I was 12. That was because A) He never told me and B) he always partook very discreetly so as not to make a scene.
I don't see my father just leaving like I have because he has spent the past 4 decades in. However, I get the impression that he is no longer going to let his choice of religion get in the way of having a relationship with his kids.