Joel's Pioneer and Bethel Chronicles Part 2

joelbear69

1975, I started my senior year of high school. There was no sign
that the great tribulation was going to start in October. Peace
and Security had not been declared. Babylon the Great showed no
signs of falling. I got razzed a good bit at school about it because
even many non-witnesses knew that we were expecting the end of the
world that year.

I no longer cared about the razzing because for
the most part I was no longer a believer myself. I knew 1975 was
bogus. I was going to have a good time my senior year. I got a
job at McDonalds (the condition for me owning a car). Working at
McDonalds was horrible sweat shop labor. They would never allow
kids to be treated that way today. But I had a car. And you all
know what that means. I had freedom. I could move about on my
own free will. And so I did.

I tried to make up for lost time by diving into school and those
evil extra curricular activities. I was the President of the Foreign
Language Club, Treasurer of the Beta Club, Editor of the school
yearbook, Captain of the Academic Bowl team and a member of the
school's Math Team. I had a blast. All the bullys who had made
my life miserable since 7th grade seemed to disappear. I suppose
because I was acting more like a normal kid. Only one of two
held on to trying to torment me, mostly for being gay. They had
all figured it out, as much as I tried to deny it.

Oh my god, I wore silver rimmed, blue tinted glasses to school that
year. My Elton John look I suppose, but I had not considered how
gay it would look. I was going for a laid back bohemian look.

With the car, my mom and I no longer had to stand out by the street
in front of our house waiting for witnesses to pick us up for the
meetings. In these days, we didn't see much of my Dad. He stayed
out drinking with his workmates til way into the night most nights.
I sometimes would go days without seeing him. Of course I was
expected to take mom to all the meetings and out in service. I
no longer really paid attention at the meetings. I spent most of
my time ogling the cute brothers in the hall and hiding my adolescent
reaction to this under my bible. I avoided service at all costs,
claiming I had schoolwork to do.

I spent a lot of time with my high school friends. Just cruising
up and down the main street in Valdosta and hanging out at Shoney's.
My friends would pair up and make out. I would wish I could make
out with David, my first major love. I only had one date in high
school. I took a girl named Susan to see Monty Python and the
Holy Grail. This is not a good date movie, although I thought it
was hysterical and was forevermore hooked on Monty Python.

I was 5th in my class of 351 seniors. I exceled in all subjects
and loved being editor of the yearbook. I knew mom and especially
dad would never allow me to go to college. We had vicious fights
about it at home. They would not allow me to sign up for scholarships.
My teachers and counselors advised me to leave home. I was too
gifted not to follow my dreams they said. So I actually did fill
out an application for the local university, but mom and dad brought
over all my witness friends. I succumbed to peer pressure. I had
known these kids for years. We had grown up together. This was my
gang. My witness gang. I also had a worldly gang. I had fun
with both of them. What would I choose.

Well, I couldn't stand the thought of losing my witness friends, so
you guessed it. I didn't go to college. I therefore had no clue
what I was going to do for a living. My plan was to major in Math
and Statistics and become a college professor and researcher. On
a whim I sent my SAT scores to Stanford. I was in the 93rd percentile
of those that sent in their scores. I knew I could be accepted.
But no, I never applied.

One day at the breakfast table my sister in law suggested I try
banking. That's what she did. So, I tried it and quickly got a
job as a teller at a local bank.

Next Chapter: Someone dies, Someone leaves.

DoomVoyager

I was in the 93rd percentile
of those that sent in their scores. I knew I could be accepted.
But no, I never applied.

Absolutely disgusting.

(not blaming you; blaming the witlesses.)

Looking forward to the next installment.

OM

Joel's Pioneer and Bethel Chronicles Part 2

joelbear69

DoomVoyager

chikikie

Burger Time

Open mind

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