Thanks so much to all who responded to my story! I really appreciate all the warm welcomes and well considered advice.
Larc, I know that you are one of the premier posters here, and it is gratifying to read of your emotional response to my experience. And yes, I do find that writing about these things is very therapeutic, as well as reading the stories and comments of all the others.
Jang, thanks for the list of URL's; I will be checking them out definitely.
AlanF,You have mentioned several issues that I am dealing with. My husband of 28 years is a baptized witness, but has been totally inactive for a few years. He has been fairly understanding and tolerant of my transformation, and will not condemn me or report me. At first, he kept saying that if I would just quit reading all that "stuff", I would get over it, but now he sees that will not happen. As far as my younger son, I immediately went to him and told him that I would cease trying to make him feel guilty for his choice to leave, and we have repaired our strained relationship. He is pretty much an atheist now, and a bit of an iconoclast and will not be going back to the KH. For the rest of it, I think your advice on subtlety is probably the way to go, but it is not easy. I'm trying.
Francoise, thanks for your insights, I will have to remember that "evil twin" thing!
emyrose, I concur with your comments on not necessarily discarding God with the WTS. I no longer know exactly who God is or exactly what he expects of humans like I thought I did before, but I do feel that there is more to life, the universe, and everything than can be explained through purely through physical means.
Waiting, Yea, I liked the Truman name too, that movie really speaks to me. Corresponding with your sister has been very helpful to me, and I hope that someday perhaps I may get to meet her. Her situation with kids is close to mine and it helps to get that perspective on things.
Had Enough, I really feel for you, having the prospect still ahead of you revealing yourself to your children, both JW and nonJW. It was very difficult for me to tell my JW son that in effect everything I had taught him all his life , I now have serious problems with. I did not go into much detail with him, and after the initial conversations, he asks no questions. I know that in his eyes I am damaged goods, and no longer trustworthy spiritually. He is a fair minded man though, and tries hard to treat me normally. He did tell me though that if it came to a choice between me and the cong., he would have to go with the cong. It makes me very sad, but I understand where it is coming from. I too have to go to the DA next week, and like you said---sheer torture. I'll be thinking about you!
Riz, thanks for listening to me during some of my darkest days. Just knowing that someone was out there was a lifeline for me. Thanks so much!
Thanks to everyone else who responded, professor, scorpion ,crossroads, anglise, neyank, slipnslidemaster ( is your name a reference to that venerable kid's water toy for lawns?), and cliff jackson.
LMR
