Reading Simon's thread on The Memorial(tm), made me realize something, that I have to share with the gang. This is 100% true.
In the early 1990s, my parents (father = elder/secretary) took a week's vacation in Cuba.
Due to either poor planning, or "neglect of spiritual things(tm)", they realized they were going to be in Cuba for the memorial. (can you say WHOOPS!!!???)
"No problem, we'll have memorial with the Brothers(tm) in Cuba" said Dad.
Well, guess what! Cuba is a communist/socialist regime! The brothers(tm) are "under ban(tm)". You can't just open a phone book and look up "JWs" and find a KH. Perhaps Dad thought he could use his "JW-dar" (kind of like Gay-dar) to find a brother, I don't know.
Upon their return, I ask "How was Memorial(tm)? What was the KH like?" Dad's response: "Oh, uh, we couldn't find the Brothers, the work there is underground(tm), you know."
"So what did you do for Memorial(tm)????" I ask, shocked.
"Oh, we got some wine and some bread and we had our own Memorial(tm) in the hotel room." said Dad, trying to make it sound like this was an acceptable alternative.
Do you think he could have got away with it if he wasn't an elder, hhhmmmm?????
This year, my lovely wife and I are going away to Cuba. Coincidentally, we will be in Cuba for the Memorial(tm).
My Mom hasn't reminded me about Memorial(tm) for a few years now (I guess she knows better), but I'm hoping she does this year, so I can say, "Sorry Mom, but I'll be in Cuba, so I guess I'll have to have my own Memorial(tm) in the hotel just like you and dad did that one time. Fortunately, I have a copy of the Memorial Talk Outline(tm), but what kind of bread, and what brand of wine, exactly, did you and dad use?"
Strange, are these little coincidences of life, no?
~Quotes, of the "Viva Fidel, viva la Revolution, and viva Habanos hechos on Cuba" class