Leave it to Rayzorblade. You know despite how sweet and innocent I may have been, I guess I was not, to some people.
A JW wedding. I'll never forget it. It was actually fun, or it was for awhile.
The brother who was getting married, I knew his family well. The other three siblings were way older than I was, and married into JW families as well. I was quite fond of this family. The brother's older sister in attendance was a real hoot, and loads of fun to be with, but her husband was one of these no fun elders.
I remember people would dance, and the music was innocuous enough. Everyone was seemingly having a good time. So, I remember asking the brother's eldest sister for a dance, and she was OK with it, but then along comes the elder husband, admonishing me on how inappropriate this would be, and that it could stumble on-lookers (event held at a Howard Johnsons). The wife of the elder looked at him, no impressed, but she remained quiet. I was hurt, as this was done in the presence of other people.
So, after a half hour or so, I ask just another JW in attendance, another sister, but single to dance. Guess who notices? You guessed it. He comes over, in his monotone voice counselling me on my decision to dance with this sister.
I was speechless; he's an elder, I'm a publisher. No comeback was dared.
Later on, I do dance with a crowd of JWs - getting into it again, and of course one of the unbaptized sisters and I are coupled off.
You'll never guess what?
Uh huh, back he comes. Same old line and same monotonous diatribe 'think about your actions','be mindful that we do not stumble on-lookers','you're an unbaptized young man and this is unacceptable'.
Ya wanna know something? He wasn't even an elder from the area, let alone the province. He just happened to be related by marraige. He was SO NO FUN!
Later, I am seated, very depressed and down. I am not dancing, I'm just seated there not feeling happy for anything, not even the couple that got married. I was really depressed and I was about ready to leave, walking a long ways home (5 miles).
As I am sitting there, a hand lands on my shoulder from behind.
GUESS WHO?
'Hey, why are you looking so sad?'
Can you believe it?