Thanks LittleToe and yes I have named myself after the animation. I do resemble a small hippo on occassion, especially when seated.
NewYork44M - I can understand how the old man must have felt. I was having serious second thoughts the week beforehand and wanted to postpone it but was too scared to say anything. So I just put my feelings down to Satan's influence and went ahead with it.
WasenelderOnce - During my 10 years away from it, I wasn't aware of the generation change and I was still confidently telling my friends how those that witnessed 1914 will still be alive when the end comes. I had lots of heated discussions with a boyfriend about why I will never need a pension.
truthsetsonefree - I remember the lady who I got lifts with to the meetings told me that she doesn't speak to her daughter anymore but said she'll tell me why another time. I thought that she meant when she gets to know me better as a friend or when its less painful to talk about but no, she waited until I was baptized and then explained that it was because her daughter was df and she had to shun her.