ShaunaC

Joined

• started 11 topics
• posted 199 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by ShaunaC

• 
  39

  Exotic Vacations: your favourite places on the globe

  by RAYZORBLADE in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ok folks, honestly, i know many of you have travelled some, and a few have ventured into some pretty exotic far off places.

  where did you go on your last vacation?

  where is the most exotic place you have visited?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  ShaunaC

  Hey LB, where in Maui will you be? I'll be at the Whaler in Kaanapali from May 24 - June 1.
• 
  40

  Do you have a favorite work of art?

  by Aztec in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is mine:.

  it's by georgia o'keefe, one of my favorite artists.

  my signature pic is also one of my favorites by giger.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  ShaunaC

  My boyfriend, Nick's, mother has her own gallery in San Diego, CA. From her I've learned to appreciate art in a way I never did before. I am very partial to abstract work. My favorite artist is Joseph Maruska. Mom lends us many works of art. Sha gave nick a very large Maruska for his office, that is until we get a house and I steal it away. I have two little ones in our apartment now.

  http://www.dnfagallery.com/exhibits/1002-6artists/maruska/_pricepages/new%20star.htm

  If you'd like to look at more artists from my mum-in-law's website, it is http://www.susanstreetfineart.com/home.html
• 
  46

  Recovering from shunning

  by Elsewhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  how does one recover from being shunned?

  my family is shunning me.

  so is everyone i grew up with since i was raised in the borg.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  ShaunaC

  (((((Elsewhere)))))

  I appreciate everything you said. My time frame is the same as yours, 4 years. Most contact, although little, was always instigated by me. We have not spoken since Feb.

  I've come to understand what kinds of people I want in my life. Besides the JW issue, I've come to learn of other things about my parents (especially my dad who is a PO & has allowed, even praised a servant in his congo he knows is a pedophile), that has caused me to lose most all respect for them as human beings. For so long I excused their behavior cuz it's all they've ever known. But now it goes way beyond that.

  I'm in the process of writing a very detailed and intense letter. I've been mulling it over for months & months cuz I want to express myself with as little anger as possible (although it's there) and represent myself in the most respectable way. But I don't intend to prance around the issues. This letter is my one shot to firmly say I WILL NEVER BE BACK and show the many doctrinal reasons of why. I will also be quite candid as to my disappointment as to the kind of human beings they've shown themselves to be.

  My intentions are many....

  To finally speak up for myself loud & clear.

  Such action will either cause them to quite their shunning cuz they realize it does no good (yeah right) or they will cut me off once and for all.

  To take my shot at exposing the JW's for what they really are. I don't feel they will ever leave, BUT if there is at least 1% chance to open their eyes, I need to take it.

  I've become quite accustomed to not having them in my life. Hearing that my own parents don't want me to be happy in the least bit makes me want to cut them out of life completely. They do not deserve to be apart of any happy occasion in my life. I used to wonder if they would come to my wedding. Now I have no intention of ever inviting or telling them.

  I understand how hard it is. I was extremely close to my family. We did everything together. But my freedom has been so worth giving them up. I have new family that love & adore me. They can't even fathom doing to me as my parents have done.

  I wish you the best in your recovery. And yes....see a therapist. I intend to as well to help me continually work things out. And it is good to tell them everything. It will be quite a cleansing process for you in itself.

  Shauna
• 
  18

  Should I go Decorate my old KH? GRIN>

  by NaruNaruChan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  so this morning at around 5am, my girlfriend and i were driving in north fresno and we noticed that there are two huge christmastree like trees in front of the hall, outside of the oh-so-welcoming gates... and so i got to thinking... and... hmm.... should i???

  in the words of ts eliot, "do i dare disturb the universe?".

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  ShaunaC

  Ahh, that's the hall my ex goes to and so many people I grew up with. Yes, please decorate....and pictures please! haha

  Shauna (Titterinton) Collins
• 
  3

  Looking for Mike Miranda from Central Valley, CA

  by ShaunaC in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i'm looking for a long lost friend i can't forget.

  his name is mike miranda.

  we attended pioneer school together in 1991. we had an instant connection but i was immediately engaged & married so our friendship was never allowed to flourish.. he was to attend my wedding in june 1992 but never showed.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  ShaunaC

  bttt

  BTW, Mike was from Porterville. I would appreciate anyone with any info. Thanks!
• 
  3

  Looking for Mike Miranda from Central Valley, CA

  by ShaunaC in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i'm looking for a long lost friend i can't forget.

  his name is mike miranda.

  we attended pioneer school together in 1991. we had an instant connection but i was immediately engaged & married so our friendship was never allowed to flourish.. he was to attend my wedding in june 1992 but never showed.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  ShaunaC

  I'm looking for a long lost friend I can't forget. His name is Mike Miranda. We attended pioneer school together in 1991. We had an instant connection but I was immediately engaged & married so our friendship was never allowed to flourish.

  He was to attend my wedding in June 1992 but never showed. Although choosing not to take pictures with every family member I had, my friendship with Mike was important enough to plan to take wedding pics w/ him if he came. I was very bummed he didn't.

  The summer of 1992 was the last time we saw each other & spoke at the District Convention in Fresno, CA. A month or two later police called my parents home looking for me for questioning. Mike's truck had been found abandoned. Foulplay was suspected. They had found letters from me in his room and wanted to question me on my possible knowledge of where he was.

  I never found out the outcome. Months later, even up to a year, I heard accounts saying the some towns people had thought they saw him. I have no idea if he is dead or if he was recovered in any way.

  At the time he was 18-19 years old. He lived w/ an abusive psycotic JW mother and younger siblings. Although a dire situation he felt the need to help his younger siblings.

  Mike....if you are out there anywhere, PLEASE contact me. I think about you all of the time. Or if anyone has any information I would greatly appreciate putting my mind to rest. My email is [email protected]. Mike would be about 28-29 years old now.

  I have on many occasions thought of doing a more extensive search for him. Thought I would try this first just in case.

  Thank you!

  Shauna (Titterington) Collins
• 
  61

  Describe Your "STATUS" In The Congreg...

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if you were to describe what your status was in the congregation, what would it be?

  were you viewed as mature?

  in "good standing", a pain in the rear?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  ShaunaC

  I was the "Shining Example." Always called upon to give impromtus, pioneer.....the daughter everyone wished was there own. Then all of the sudden I was outta there and I hear the rumors from past 2nd dads and grandmas that they never really liked me anyway! haha
• 
  24

  the sweetest thing

  by forgetmenot in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  what is the sweetest or nicest thing somebody of the opposite sex has ever said or done for you?

  or what would you want somebody of the opposite sex to say or do to you to make you all happy inside?

  i'm not looking for sexual things here just things that make you stop and go "ahh how nice".

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  ShaunaC

  The sweetest thing ever done for me....

  About a year and a half after getting of the WT I had begun to experience severe depression. Every 2-4 weeks I would lose myself in crying fits that I could not stop. It culminated in me writing a letter to my parents explaining why I had left. This after my honey Nick had already behind my back had called my mom twice asking what he could do to help repair our relationship. She of course explained that the only acceptable thing was for me to return. His calls never did spur her to call me.

  Anyway, a few months later I finally had a sit down discussion with my parents. It ended very badly, with them walking out of my house without even saying goodbye. On the way out my mother threw a 5 page letter on the table, a letter full of so many hateful things a mother should never say. I was so deeply sad that I could barely function.

  At the time Nick was living 2 1/2 hours away from me. The day after my meeting with the parents I drove after work to see him for the weekend. As soon as I got there he had a basket ready and we headed out. We ended up at a sand dune where I see huge as day "I love you Shauna" written with seaweed on the dune. He was upset that some of my name had gotten messed up (he had done it early that morning). We then hiked the dune and sat and ate our picnic dinner before a beautiful California ocean sunset.

  I have never felt so loved after feeling so unloved from my own parents. It was truly the sweetest and most loving thing he has ever done, although he's come close quite often. I LOVE YOU NICK!!!

  Shauna
• 
  55

  Will You Celebrate Halloween This Year?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  some fundamentalists believe halloween is the devil's holiday.so are you doing anything on halloween?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  ShaunaC

  While a JW, Halloween was the holiday I abhored the most, followed closely by Christmas cuz those damn songs would get stuck in my head! :)

  Now however, I think I love Halloween the most. It's true that adults can have just as much fun dressing up as children do. I start planning my costume late summer. And with the fear of demons that the WT instilled in me gone, I no longer get freaked out by the ghosts and goblins. Who cares? It's all make-believe.

  So this will be my 3rd Halloween. My first....the sluttiest red devil you have ever seen (thought it was fitting for my 1st), last year....hot biker chick (leather & tattoos, yeah!!!), and this year...dominatrix (dying to wear a black wig and drag my man around by a chain).

  The point is, it does not have to be as serious as the WT told us. Have fun with it!!!
• 
  80

  Larc's weekend survey

  by larc in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  could you please take a few minutes to answer the following questions:.

  1. your age.

  2. how long were you a witness.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  ShaunaC

  1. your age 28

  2. how long were you a Witness birth to 24

  3. how long have you been out of the religion. 4 years

  4. which of the following symptoms did you experience as a witness.

  4a. depression Probably the last year or so of being a JW it came to a head.About 1 1/2 years after I got out I suffered sever depression in the way that every couple of weeks to a month I would lose myself in uncontrollable crying fits. After 6 months or so this subsided, without drugs or therapy, although I still feel the need for therapy.

  4b. low self esteem Always to some degree, but became worse upon leaving. I think this is especially so for women who have been raised as a JW. I'm getting much better though!

  4c. anxiety Not while a JW, but some after leaving when I had to make my own decisions for the first time in my life.

  4d. psychosis

  5. Today, which of those symptoms do you have? a,b,and c on occasion...see above for explanation.

  6. Today, how would you rate your overall degree of happiness 1. much less happy than as a JW 2. somewhat less happy 3. just as happy 4. somewhat more happy 5. much more happy. Despite all I've had to leave behind (family), there is nothing greater than freedom!!! After 4 years, my loss of relationships w/ people I was once so close to leave me only sad for them. I no longer feel sadness for myself for that loss because I know I'm a better person and no longer want such self-righteous, judgemental people in my life. I have new family now! Blood means nothing!