Hi All!
Aaron's thread over in the "Personal Experiences" section really got me thinking about how it was to grow up a JW child in the 80's. I was born in 1979. So, I missed the 1970's. (thank goodness) Life as a JW child in the 80's sucked big time. People seemed really fanatical in the 1980's where I grew up. Many of the ones my parents studied from said that I wouldn't make it to elementary school in 1984. So, I remember EXACTLY how my first day of school was, and my parents anguish of even having to take me there. The end was supposed to be here by now, remember?? My father studied first in the 70's, so he remembered how 1975 was. I grew up a semi-rural area. Everyone in school had cable TV, except of course me. Even some of the more "well-off" families had cable, but of course we didn't. We were middle class, so we were treated like dirt. But it was ok as armaggedon was right around the corner, so I wouldn't have to worry about too many more years of being picked on in school for not celebrating holidays or birthdays. Just "turn the other cheek", and ignore them young Wing Commader, Jehovah will take care of them in the end. Don't defend yourself, or fight back, as that would be bringing insult upon God since we are to be examples for our religion. Actually, school was cool right up until 4th grade, when "Older Elder's Son Flunky" (12 year old in 4th grade, you figure it out) decided to pick on me and beat the shit out of me everyday during the year, and there was nothing I could do about it. When my naive father finally did get pissed off at Elder's Son, a meeting was called on a Saturday at the KingDumb Hall. Of course, "Older Elder's Son Flunky" denied everything, laid blame on me, said I deserved it, said he'd be better, hugged me, smiled at everyone, and the issue was done, except for the pounding I would get later on. What a great justice system this religion has!! Ironically, I had more worldly friends than JW friends, even though I couldn't play with them after school. That's because the JW children always seemed to be way worse than the "Worldly" children, so I pretty much stayed away from them. Ironically, the only JW friend I had as a small child was an annointed one's son. Also ironically, this child's name was Damon. Is that a laugh riot, or what? But seriously, he was very nice and not like the kid in "The Omen." His family was also very nice, and it was easy to see his father was of the annointed. He just seemed Holy and had a heart of gold. Too bad he only did maintance work to support his 6 kids while his wife bitched and moaned. But hey, the end would surely come before we reached the 90's, right? Yippee!!
About the only other person I could relate to was a Jewish girl that went to my elementary school. She excluded herself as well during holiday celebrations, as she was Jewish. Imagine! Up until I was about 8, Saturday Field Service was a must. Usually we did it in the afternoon with the ones my parents had studied with, or with Brother Annointed and his family. That was cool, since it gave me time in the morning to watch cartoons, the only thing normal I was actually allowed to do. Saturday afternoons were always hot as hell though I remember. Of course, it didn't help that we had to ride in Brother Annointed's 1978 Buick station wagon, which had no air conditioning. Oh, and 4 adults and 7 kids crammed into it. Ewwww. Then again, this is what people had before the "Mini-Van or SUV" had come along. So I guess that was normal for JW's. The best part in reality was just walking down the streets in Lancaster City or taking a break to eat.
Apparently before I was born, my mom had a big falling out with my mom's family about our religion. My father made my mother stop talking to her entire family except her father (he accepted us) while her brother' and sisters all thought she was in a looney cult because every time they would come over they would ram JW magazines and doctrines down their Lutheran throats. Imagine that!! Needless to say, I never met ANY of my cousins until 1989 when my mother's father developed terminal lung cancer. Hell of a way to meet your cousins for the first time, at your grandfather's funeral. But, at least he made my mother and father and uncles and aunts promise to get over their shit and start talking again on his death bed. This was the first eye opening for me and my mother. Imagine, 10-13 years of not speaking to your own brother? All because of a disagreement? Rediculous. Also, after about 10 years of slaving away peddling magazines with nothing to show for it, and no support when my grandfather died, my parents were exhausted. Gee, I was heading towards jr. High in a few years, and we were STILL in this system of things? Surely, we won't encourage him to take advanced academic courses, even though he was considered "gifted" by our own family doctor? Nah.....he'll be fine learning a trade and slaving away as an adult.....PLUS, it will get him ready for the rebuilding work in the New Order. Gee, thanks alot!! Never mind that my mother graduated from Nursing School and that I wanted to be a doctor or pilot? Fuck that! There will be no need for either of those in the New System, just janitors and construction workers. But what about Brother Big-Shot Cadillac Driver? He has a good job and a nice life? "Well, he did all that before coming into the truth!!" Me - "So why doesn't he give it up now?" Parents - "You'll understand when you're older." Well, here I am older, and I understand a hell of a lot now. I understand how I missed out on a shitload of stuff growing up, such as: sports with friends, band, plays, video games, cable TV, 80's music videos, nice clothes, etc. All the while Brother Big-Shot Cadillac Driver's kids got away with murder and living the good life. I was screwed. We all were, especially if you didn't bring $$$ into the congregation. Just peddle those magazines every week. And clothing.....my parents bought my cloth at freakin GoodWill, as you weren't allowed to shop at the Salvation Army, that was supporting Satan's system. What crap!! Brother Elder's Son got to have new suits, while I had to settle from left over brown suits from the 70's. School was even worse.....jeans with dress shoes, and plain t-shirts, I couldn't have any kind of name brand on them - flashy, materialistic to have that on them! Shit, I coudln't even have a poster on my walls of my bedroom, as that is idolotry!! Imagine that crap!! I couldn't leave the confines of my yard, as those were the rules. So I grew up a prisoner until I was 16, not allowed to go out or doing anything besides school, Kingdom Hall, or our yearly vacation. What a way to live - or not live as the case may be.
But the 90's....that is a different story. Some doors started to open as my parent's dissatisfaction grew with the Borganization. But that is for another thread, and another time.........
Regards - Wing Commander