Hi everybody!! Long time no see.
So, since I last posted on here, JWs drove my sister to attempt suicide again (she failed, but it was close) and drove my close childhood friend to actually commit suicide. I too kmy sister in and helped her recover. I think she's going to pull through. As for my friend Leota, well, I was afraid to go to her funeral because I feared I might not be let in the door. This past summer, I got to go back to Illinois and visit her grave. I bawled and sat there. She's not in torment any more, but her son is being raised by the same parents who tried to emotionally destroy her (and I guess they succeeded).
My child-molesting/abusing parents recently celebrated "40 years of love and faith" and were lauded appropriately, according to my mother's Facebook page. So many people (including a few who knew why my dad was originally disfellowshipped) chimed in with praise and words of encouragement. I can only guess that there's been a nearly 90% turnover in the Belvidere congregation. That, or JWs really don't give a rat's ass if you let your daughters be "second wifey". I didn't recognize most of the names. We don't personally speak any more, as the last time I talked to her on the phone, she mentioned how nice it was that two little neighbor girls were coming over to play with my old toys all the time. This sent a bolt of ice through my heart. I hung up and considered calling the police, but I didn't even know where to begin. I felt helpless and disgusting. I hope nothing has happened to those little girls at my dad's hands.
While in school, I also did some intensive PTSD-focused therapy at the school's psychology clinic. It helped me a great deal, and now I'm using those skills I learned to volunteer with a homeless shelter and a rape crisis center. My plan is to take every bad memory and put it to work as a tool to help others. I won't let those fuckers win.
How's everybody?
Tanya