Bryan

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Posts by Bryan

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  5

  After 40 years... part one

  by Bryan in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  the butterflies took flight as i pulled around the corner.

  one more left, and i?m there.

  i heard all the stories of his drinking and abuse.

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  Bryan

  Bem. I'm glad you connected. I hope it worked out.

  Seeitclearly. Thanks... I try.

  Bryan

  Have You Seen My Mother
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  12

  After 40 years... part three

  by Bryan in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  after 40 years... part one http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/7/82158/1.ashx.

  after 40 years... part two http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/7/82208/1.ashx.

  we stopped off at denny?s in temple city.

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  Bryan

  After 40 years... part one http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/7/82158/1.ashx

  After 40 years... part two http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/7/82208/1.ashx

  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  We stopped off at Denny?s in Temple City. As the host asked, ?How many??, Bryan rang out, ?Two!?. As if he just found a new girlfriend.

  We sat there across from one another and we talked about family, the past and the future. I listened and stared as deeply as I could into his dark eyes. I thought of all the stories of his alcohol abuse, beating my grandmother and their children. I wanted to see this man. I wanted to see him so I would know where to stand; find my own footing. I have read the letters, I know his past. But all I could see was a gentle old man. A grandfather, excited as a crisp Christmas morning, to see his long lost grandson.

  Though, his eyes were black as coal, I could see no demons. His face was filled with deep lines; not anger. He was sober and caring. He was simply my grandfather.

  I mentioned my mother to him and I could see his joyful smile change to a shamefull frown. He admitted the last time he saw her was, just before she and Jack left for Oklahoma, in the early eighties. I told him of all the family I had found in just the last year: his daughter Sherry, niece Judy, sister-in-law Vera, and her kids, Greorgina, Kathy and Colene. I told him of his other two grandchildren, Little Sherry, Little Lola, and their father, Eddie. I could see he knew everyone had a story for me, about him. But he didn?t approach the issue; and neither did I.

  Bryan helped me to understand more about the first time my mother left with me for California. She had called her sister, Sherry, and asked if she and her husband, Eddie, could pick as up. They made arrangements and Bryan tagged along for the ride. They left on Friday afternoon and drove strait in to McLoud, Oklahoma.

  His story was almost exactly the same as both my aunt?s and uncle?s. The one new bit of new information, though, was that they didn?t know where we lived. They were directed to stop at Cheyenne Road?s home, my father?s boss. Bryan also knew Cheyenne and where he lived. He was to give them directions to our home.

  They arrived at our house at about midnight, August 1964. I was three months old. Only the three of us where there. I asked Bryan about my father?s demeanor.

  ?Was he angry or upset?? I asked.

  Bryan said my father was rather cool, yet agitated. My grandfather assumed they argued all they could up to about that point. They were there for about an hour getting mom and me loaded into the car. Once we were loaded up we left as quickly as they had arrived.

  Again, I learned, my mother did not steal me away, as my father?s back was turned, as he had told me for decades. He knew she was leaving with me. My father once again has been proven a liar.

  He soon asked if my father was still in that religion. I confirmed his query and told him that after years of being in the organization myself, I was able to escape.

  ?That?s good.? He said.

  ?That religion was the reason for most of our fights; between Lola and me.?

  He told me how she continually tried to convert him, and told her she could do what ever she wanted but, he wasn?t converting.

  He recalled one year, when my mother was just a little girl, how he asked what everyone wanted for Christmas. Lola, my grandmother, came back at him with, ?We don?t celebrate Christmas?. Bryan told her, under his roof, they do celebrate Christmas, and he was buying gifts. He told her to think of the gifts as she will, just plain presents if she had to, but he was buying Christmas gifts for everyone. This was a story I have heard through the years from many families.

  We discussed all the family we could conjure up and how so many are dying off.

  ?I?m gonna be left here all alone.? He said.

  Soon enough, the waitress came around with the check and we both grabbed at it. She smiled big as she heard Bryan say, ?I?ll get it. It?s not everyday I get buy my grandson breakfast.?

  ?That?s so sweet.? She said walking away.

  I didn?t fight. I let the proud grandfather treat his grandson and we went our way; no one the wiser.
  Leaving Denney?s in his boat, he asked if I had time to spend with him that day. I told him I had nothing planned and he asked if I?d like to accompany him to see Bella.

  I knew where she was, and I was happy he invited me.

  To be continued...

  Bryan

  Have You Seen My Mother
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  12

  After 40 years... part two / with picture.

  by Bryan in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  the old man with the worn leather face stood much more erect than i expected.. ?what can i do for you??

  he gently questioned.. ?i?m looking for bryan mason.?

  i told him.. i knew from all the old photograph of the young bryan, that it was indeed him.

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  Bryan

  Thanks everyone. Don't know what the deal is, but I can't post the third page.

  I'll try tomorrow.

  Bryan

  Have You Seen My Mother
• 
  12

  After 40 years... part two / with picture.

  by Bryan in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  the old man with the worn leather face stood much more erect than i expected.. ?what can i do for you??

  he gently questioned.. ?i?m looking for bryan mason.?

  i told him.. i knew from all the old photograph of the young bryan, that it was indeed him.

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  Bryan

  Trying to post the third page, but I'm having a hard time posting.... errors.

  Bryan

  Have You Seen My Mother
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  10

  After 41 Years

  by Carmel in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  well as of 2:00 this afternoon, mrs. jones and yours truely have been married for 41 consecutive years!

  still havin fun and looking forward to 41 more!.

  cheers,.

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  Bryan

  Hey... Congratulations!!!!

  Bryan

  Have You Seen My Mother
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  5

  I missed out on my grandfather

  by czarofmischief in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  thanks to that damnable cult i missed the last few years of my grandfather's life.. he died last year.

  he was a kind man.

  not a jw.

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  Bryan

  Sorry to hear it. I know how you feel.

  Bryan

  Have you Seen My Mother
• 
  12

  After 40 years... part two / with picture.

  by Bryan in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  the old man with the worn leather face stood much more erect than i expected.. ?what can i do for you??

  he gently questioned.. ?i?m looking for bryan mason.?

  i told him.. i knew from all the old photograph of the young bryan, that it was indeed him.

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  Bryan

  Oh, yeah... What happened to me?

  I think it's called life!

  Bryan

  Have You Seen My Mother
• 
  12

  After 40 years... part two / with picture.

  by Bryan in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  the old man with the worn leather face stood much more erect than i expected.. ?what can i do for you??

  he gently questioned.. ?i?m looking for bryan mason.?

  i told him.. i knew from all the old photograph of the young bryan, that it was indeed him.

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  Bryan

  Actually, shotgun, my grandfather says the picture was given to him by the manager of a trailer park. That is where Bryan and my grandmother lived when my mother gave birth to me (my grandmother died 8 days later). No one had a phone, so my mother would call the office to speak to her mother.

  The managers were witnesses. My father had sent them the picture of me. They contacted my grandfather and told him, that it was a picture of his grandson, and that probably would appriciate it more than them. So they gave it to him.

  It's a crazy story.

  Bryan

  Have You Seen My Mother
• 
  12

  After 40 years... part two / with picture.

  by Bryan in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  the old man with the worn leather face stood much more erect than i expected.. ?what can i do for you??

  he gently questioned.. ?i?m looking for bryan mason.?

  i told him.. i knew from all the old photograph of the young bryan, that it was indeed him.

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  Bryan

  The picture hanging in my grandfather's home.
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  28

  New here (sort of)

  by TheListener in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  although this is my first post i must say that i feel like i know so many here very well.

  your posts have helped me tremendously.

  as i become more comfortable i hope to join in the topics and begin to share more about myself.. for now i'll say that i am currently a jw that began researching information about two years ago to improve my faith and knowledge.

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  Bryan

  Welcome Listener!

  I'm happy to hear you feel so at home!

  Bryan

  Have You Seen My Mother