I just finished 10,000 posts today. I didn't even notice. So here I start on my next 10 grand.
For a subject, I suppose I just wanted to say that this was my second year exchanging gifts at Festivus/Soltice/Christmas.
I was a bit timid about it last year, but not this year.
The wife insisted that she not be there when we did it. I dropped her off at the nearby coffee shop when I visited non-JW family and we did the gift exchange. Then I picked the wife up and she joined us for our meal. That's pretty good progress for my wife.
We also recently were traveling by car when my cell phone rang. I briefly talked to one of my fellow JWN posters. When I hung up, the wife asked "Who was that?" I told her it was my friend XXX in New Jersey. "How do you know him?"
I answered, "If I am ever vague with my answers, it's because I trust you but I don't want you to feel pressured if the elders ever put pressure on you to tell them things about me."
She answered, "Well, you will just have to be assured that I would simply tell them that if they want to know anything, they should ask you directly."
Anyway, my point is that the fade is total and complete. My wife even accepts it and is caving in on her staunch JW ways bit by bit.