My Story (page 2)

lilybird

Hi xjw4evr..I enjoyed reading your story of your childhood with JW parents...Many JW parents were kind and caring and yet many JW parents raised their children harshly.. Glad to hear you were raised with loving parents and I will forward to reading more of your story...

fullofdoubtnow

Hi XJW4EVR. and welcome to the board.

Thank you for sharing your story. I look forward to reading more

Frannie Banannie

Welcome to JWD, ((((((XJW4EVER)))))) It'll get better. We'll all be waiting to hear the rest of your story. I can only think that the reason for your forum name here is because your adoptive parents were the exception to the jdubya rule. Glad you had good parents, sweetie!

Frannie

BluesBrother

Welcome to the board, XJW4EVER ..... We look forward the rest of the story

KW13

A big story. Were here to listen whenever you feel like talking

XJW4EVR

Thank you all for your responses. Even though I have been out since 1989, I still find it difficult to talk about my past. Please pardon me if I digress at points.

Back to the story.

My dad, at the time had a very successful janitorial business. One of my fondest memories was of helping him clean the offices at a large plant. Often on Thursdays, my dad would save this plant for last. We would eat a late night dinner at Sambo's. This place was a pancake house that had pictures that told the story of "Little Black Sambo." Afterward, the crew would drive to that plant, and we would meet them. My mom and I would stay in a camper, until I had fallen asleep, and she would help my dad. The plant as in a fenced lot, with a guard at the gate, and in the early 70s, so I was not in any danger. This would never happen now. Late that night, my dad would drive the camper to San Pedro, and spend the night at Ports'o'Call. The next day we would eat breakfast and walk around. It was a great memory.

I had very bad asthma as child. I remember on three occasions being rushed to the ER and being in an an oxygen tent. This was very traumatic for me and my parents. My mom's parents moved to Taos, New Mexico around this time, and started a small business. My grandmother is a JW, but my grandfather never joined in, though he never opposed her entering the religion. We went to visit once, by train (another fond memory. To this day I will travel by train any chance I get). During our visit there, I was able to play all day without an asthma attack. When we came back to Los Angeles, I bad attack, and was rushed to the hospital again (one of the three times). My dad decided that we should go back in the winter to see what happens to me then. Same results, I played in the snow for hours, and not one problem. It was then that my parents decided to move to New Mexico.

My time in New Mexico was grand. My parents helped run The Burrito Wagon (my grand parents business). We were very succesful, and though we were never rich, we were better off than most in the congregation. Unfortunately, my dad got caught-up in a personality struggle with an old school elder, Brother Horne. It was just prior to our move that the duties of the Congregation Servant were divied up. Bro. Horne being a colporter (sp?), and one of the first Bible Students in New Mexico, he felt he was above the changes. I still remember during an Elders' meeting after a Thursday night meeting, Bro. Horne, screaming at my father, "You were just a no good pagan, when I was out here serving Jehovah and Bro. Rutherford." I remember my father coming out of the meeting visibly upset. He was gone all day that following Saturday, and just before the Public Talk that Sunday, he made the announcement that Bro. Horne had been DF'ed. The great thing about this, is that after Horne died (about ten years later) my dad always picked up and dropped off his widow for the meetings, until she began suffering dementia (what we now know as Altzheimer's), and was institutionalized by her son.

Another old JW lady we used to drive to and from meetings was Sister Montgomery. She was about 90 when we first moved to New Mexico. Her husband was the only "gringo" (white person) to hold a political office. This location is heavily Hispanic & Catholic. She would tell the most interesting stories. Especially when we drove her to the assemblies, and she would tell about the stagecoach and train rides up from Albuquerque to Taos. She would tell of her friends, Mabel Dodge Luhan & Georgia O'Keefe, and how they were more than "lady friends." She knew were all the bodies were buried in that town, and she loved to tell stories. She was a sharp women, but she too eventually lost he mind to Altzheimer's.

More later. Not an emotional break. Just a break.

Frannie Banannie

WOW! What an interesting story you have to tell....MORE!!! You have a gift for the telling, ma chere.

Frannie

SickofLies

Wow, you've been though a lot, remember we are here to listen when you're ready to talk again.

Legolas

Thanks for sharing!

XJW4EVR

I honestly hope that I am not boring you. I have lurked here for years, and though I have been out of the Borg for sometime, and have moved on with my life, I have recently felt the need to tell my story. I hope that someone reading this will, perhaps identify with it, and realize that they don't have to remain trapped.

I also feel that I should bring out some of the more positive elements of the JW life. I know that there are many that have suffered physically, emotionally and mentally, and I in no way disparage their life journey. I guess that I just want to know that everything I went through has some sort of meaning.

More of my story later.

My Story

Share this