to all of my forum friends ,
Thank you all for the kind words of support. Life does have its ups and downs....
I have not been posting for a while due to family responsiblities and lack of time.
My elderly mother ( the driving JW force who not only devoted her life to the Watchtower; but also converted her brothers and sisters) had a massive stroke this spring. She is severly incapacitated and requires 24 hour care. I do not think she will survive much longer. When I left the religion many years ago; and my parents left with me, my mother begged me not to write a letter dissassociating myself. Out of respect for her wishes I did not write it. It does not matter; my disconnection from that disfunctional way of life was complete long ago; without a letter to prove it.
However, with my mothers passing will go the "last vestige" of that religion. Although she was not practicing; she still referred fondly to her days in "the Truth".
She thinks I am my father. He passed 3 years ago. I always correct her; and tell her that I am her son; but if it brings her comfort at this stage, I cannot see the harm.
My wifes mother died suddenly on Memorial day. She lived in the maids cottage on my property and my wife took it very hard. My wife also recently lost her sister to breast cancer. We are dealing with it.
My house is undergoing a very lengthy and thorough renovation ( while we are living there)....almost over. We have been trying to do this major renovation work for 3 years and every time we went to start; someone in the family died and we had to shelve the project.
I have learned to " eat, drink, and be merry". My wife and I have another drink and smile; tomorrow will be better.
Anyway; my wife and kids are healthy; my kids are still the sparkle in my life ; and that is all that really matters.
thank you all, Frank