Blondie's comments in the thread about Jim Penton's upcoming book got me thinking. She was talking about the JW rumour mill. I've been out (DFed) since 1995 and have only set foot in a KH for my brother's wedding. My brother informed me a couple of weeks ago that an old friend was asking about me. She has heard through the grapevine that I had been reinstated (pretty funny). I asked him to figure out where she heard that from - I am pretty unclear as to how that might've started. Apparently this has made it's rounds around our city, maybe started when I was probably spotted talking to a few JWs that I've run into in public. It's pretty sad that she would be genuinely concerned about me (she and her husband apparently ask my parents about me from time to time) but that they can't pick up the phone and ask for themselves.
On a better note, my brother confessed to me that he is "out" (ie. of the organization). I found out he had been doing research for 2 years in private and decided to stop going to meetings. He too, like me hates to be deceived and couldn't put up with the lies anymore. I was in a total state of shock when he told me - overjoyed, but not really even believing what I was hearing again. He hasn't told my parents or other "superfine" brother yet. I don't want to say much else in order to protect his identity (although when he read this board, he could never figure out who my user account was).