Posts by FlyingHighNow

34

Anyone here ever been homeless?

by maybesbabies in

i am curious, our family was homeless on and off for several years.

i am trying to communicate to my little brother that growing up this way does not preclude one from a normal life.

is anyone willing to share a story that i can pass on to him??

Are There Some People Here That You Feel TOTALLY Comfortable With??

by minimus in

jw
friends

....that you could tell them anything and share your identity with??

?

FlyingHighNow

FlyingHigh - there are actually quite a few of us!

Hey, cool. I am relieved to know I am not isolated up here in this peninsula alone. I have lived here two years at the end of this month. I'm a southern girl. Let me tell you though, Michigan has really grown on me. The people here are so mild and mannerly. I've gotten so used to the politeness that when I go down south it's like visiting a different country. I am not even minding the snowfall since I was out on my porch barefoot the other night. It was almost 50 degrees! Winters have changed a lot since I lived in Chicago in the late 70s.

Heather

55

Are There Some People Here That You Feel TOTALLY Comfortable With??

by minimus in

jw
friends

....that you could tell them anything and share your identity with??

?

FlyingHighNow

I know Sunny Gal from another, smaller and more personal group. She's a good gal. I can sense that she is very down to earth and kind. I really get a good feeling about Mouthy. She's just so real and so loving. Her comments make me smile. Tink is a good kid. Sorry, Tink, I know you are an adult, it's just that you are between my two kids in age and I feel all maternal when it comes to you. Sassy and Xena Warrior. Good ladies. Blondie, too. Frannie: very nice lady.

Rayzor offered some very kind emapthy to me about the blood issue and how it hurt my children. This means a lot to me.

I feel comfortable enough to kid with Minimus, Gumby, Mac and Shamus. E-man's always nice and responds to my comments.

I'd trust better if I knew people in the real world though.

I suppose if there are ever any get togethers of exxes near me, I live in Southwest Michigan, I'll try to get there and meet some of you. Are there ever any near here?

Heather

35

JWs and voting. Is it okay now?

by NikL in

jw
friends

i know there has been lots of discussion on this issue in the past year but i have been unable to find it.

i need to know where to find the questions from readers that talked about it being okay for people to vote if their concience allows.

i brought this issue up with a couple of people, one a rank and file dub and the other an elder.

FlyingHighNow

WTBTS you are nothing but pond scum!

You are being farrrrrrrrrr too kind here. How about adding that they are cold hearted, pompous, weasel, control freaks with the blood of many men women and children on their hands? The outcry of those hurt by the WTBTS's old gray geezers is heard far beyond the outer edges of the universe.

Heather

31

Why do most dubyas feel it is necessary to get a new dress...

by Agent Smith in

or suit for the conventions and memorial?.

i have never understood this.

are they gonna hold a beauty pageant at the convention?

FlyingHighNow

Just so you know that not all Americans are materialistic: I shopped the second hand sales and thrift shops for most of my children's clothing. They always loved what I bought for them and they still still buy this way. I sewed for my daughter as well.

I owned very few dresses. I was petite and it was hard to find clothing that fit right. My ex husband was lucky if he owned two suit coats and couple of pairs of pants. He usually had two shirts and some hand me down ties. He never bought new suits for the memorial or convention.

My daughter had triple A width feet. That is extremely narrow. I often had to special order her shoes and they were very expensive. My son also had narrow feet. In order to be able to afford one pair of dress shoes and one pair of school shoes for them, I had to be thrifty elsewhere.

Not all of us Americans live like royalty and really most of us are content to live a simple life. Our lives are not accurately portrayed on TV. Most of us live in small three bedroom houses with one or two baths. I don't even have that anymore. I live in a 650 square feet one bedroom, one bath apartment on the third floor. I don't have a laundry room and I have to carry groceries and laundry up and down three flights of stairs. I don't own a car. I share with someone else.

If I could have all the money I wanted, I would be happy to pay my bills and have a nest egg. I'd like to travel some and have what I need basically. I'd live near my children. Simple things like that.

We Americans, we are often pretty down to earth folks believe it or not.

Heather

18

My mom called today

by Ghosthunter in

jw
friends

she always calls me at work.

i haven't heard from her in almost 3 months.

(she never calls anywhere near the holidays.

FlyingHighNow

I understand. It just stinks, the WT org, & how it messes with our lives and families. They're shunning BS has caused me a lot of grief these past few months. Oh well...

Hugs.

Heather

22

Is your marriage healthier now that you're out?

by Billygoat in

jw
friends

i already know how some of you will answer.

i realize that some dear friends here have lost their spouse due to their jw "awakening", but for those of you where both of you are now out, do you feel you are a better husband or wife because of the experience?

even if your spouse is still in, do you feel you are a better husband/wife?

FlyingHighNow

Does anyone see other relationships OUTSIDE of their marriage improving? Do you find yourself BEING a better friend?

Yes. I smile and laugh and make fun sarcastic little jokes that keep my coworkers laughing. When I arrive at work they tell me that they are so happy that it's me they will be working with that day. I have always said, "Never miss an opportunity to say something helpful and uplifting to someone who is down." I try to help people anyway I can without being a doormat. I also try very hard not to be judgmental especially with the three fellows at work who are gay. As a result I get hugs from them and big smiles. I also have customers who love me.

I'm not perfect. I still get irritated with people who are selfish and shallow but I try to love them anyway.

Heather

31

Why do most dubyas feel it is necessary to get a new dress...

by Agent Smith in

or suit for the conventions and memorial?.

i have never understood this.

are they gonna hold a beauty pageant at the convention?

FlyingHighNow

The only brothers I knew who got new suits were children who had outgrown older ones. New suits mostly came when the old ones wore out. Dresses become outdated much more often than suits do. Growing girls need summer dresses and winter dresses. The assembly is a good time to think about buying summer dresses. We all have different joys in our lives and for many people having something new to wear is a nice treat.

As has been mentioned, there is little joy in the lives of JWs. JWs aren't the only people who enjoy a good occasion to dress up. "Worldly" people just choose different occasions to purchase and wear groovy threads. I always dressed my kids up for the Memorial because it was the special occasion. It also took the sting out of the fact that I could not dress them up for Easter Sunday like my own mother dressed my siblings and me when were children.

Heather

22

Is your marriage healthier now that you're out?

by Billygoat in

jw
friends

i already know how some of you will answer.

i realize that some dear friends here have lost their spouse due to their jw "awakening", but for those of you where both of you are now out, do you feel you are a better husband or wife because of the experience?

even if your spouse is still in, do you feel you are a better husband/wife?

FlyingHighNow

My 20 year marriage to a JW was mostly miserable because of his aniquated view of women and headship. Thank goodness he divorced me.

I am in a much better relationship now. We get along very well. A lot of people envy us and for good reason. When you truly love and respect each other, who is boss will never be an issue.

I can't believe I ever fell for that headship junk. I was only 17 when I studied though. As I got older I realized there is nothing commendable or respectable about the way most JW men treat women. It's just the same old man's domination of woman that's been around for thousands of years. It's the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing. They present headship as a thing that will make couples happier. It doesn't even make the men happy. How can you be happy when you are treating your wife like a child? How can you be happier when you compare your wife to the capable wife of proverbs or the wives in the WT lessons that deal with women and their roles?

Again: I am much happier now and I am a much better partner.

Heather

48

im very upset

by Shytears in

jw
friends

.

i know its been awhile...i dont have to much to say right now.im at a loss for words..im dissfellowshipped now..the announcement will be in 2 weeks.i just need some support..

FlyingHighNow

Shy Tears,

I hope you have someone there you can confide in and turn to for help. Meanwhile, know that there are plenty of us in your shoes and we can offer you fellow feeling as well other kinds of support. It's very sad that any of us got mixed up with people who love us so conditionally. There is a lot of unconditional love in this world. 99% of it is outside the org. You will find plenty of it if you look in the right places. Please keep coming here and reading and posting. If you haven't yet read Crisis Of Conscience then you should. It will open your eyes and make you feel much better.

Take care and keep us informed. I'd give you a hug if I could.

Heather