Posts by beckyboop

14

One Comes Home..The Sadness of War

by Valis in

my children live right next to the cemetary where this young man was layed to rest..and i guess half out of morbid curiosity and half out of paying respects i went to his grave site.

it made me think that for all our posturing and talking about the war, people playing the role of pundit on any side of the topic, folks breaking down friendships, not speaking or posting to this board or that because of their nationalistic or patriotic viewpoints, we can all agree that those who lose their lives in millitary service at least deserve our respect and gratitude.

their families also deserve our compassion and respect as well.

beckyboop

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((VALIS)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Wow--you really expressed how I feel as well. I think that so many of us DON'T have a healthy respect for life and love--but it sure sounds like you are teaching this to your children very well. This war is such a crock, but the people involved in it (on both sides) need our support no matter what--because they are the ones who'll have to deal with the worst psychological effects from it.

Sorry you missed your 6 year old on CNN--maybe you'll somehow find a clip of it though. I can only imagine how proud you must be that your children will grow up without the bindings on love that we all had due to the borg.

I also agree about "seeing it for yourself"--we cannot imagine what others go through, and the news media isn't always a good source for un-biased opinions. As usual, your post struck a chord in me, and I hope that you someday make it East (we're having a New England Apostafest on Memorial Day) so that we can meet you in person. (especially since I know that you're another "fish" like me) You would be welcome to stay with my boyfriend and me and our 3 dogs if you decided to come this way...

Have a great weekend, and thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Love,

Becky

33

New England Apostafest

by beckyboop in

last year on memorial day a group of about 14 east coast ex-jw's met together in providence ri.

i had the pleasure of being able to have most of them back to our apartment for dessert, and thoroughly enjoyed meeting local people with a similar background.

i was able to meet zev, somebody, red horse woman, scumrat, sister act, doc bob & his wife, as well as others whom i can't remember their online names.. this year, i would like to get another group together on memorial day again, and hopefully we'll get even more of a response this year.

beckyboop

That's good Bear, because it wouldn't be the same without ya!!!

Becky

17

Stuck in a never-ending rut

by somebody in

jw
friends

have any of you been stuck in a rut when filling out a job application when it came to filling out that dreaded portion that requires you to:.

list at least 3 persons who are not related to you who have known you for 5 or more years.. .

it's that moment that you can't list all your "friends" in the borg, because they are not going to give you a true reference regarding what kind of person you are.

beckyboop

Hiya Somebody!!! Hey, you've got a friend right here in Rhode Island who'll vouch for you--email me if you need my home and cell phone numbers again. I can understand how scared you feel, but you're not alone! Several have already volunteered to be a reference, and I will too.

I'm looking forward to seeing you soon--and I'd love to get together before the apostafest if possible.

Becky

14

My 12 year old's spiritual quest..I could use some advice

by Eyebrow2 in

jw
friends

for the last few years, my son has been thinking about what happens when you die.

it has caused many a nights lost sleep for him.

today he asked me (for the upteenth time) what i thought happens when you die.

beckyboop

((((((((((((((((((EYEBROW 2)))))))))))))))))))))))))

What a fantastic mother you are to understand and accept that your child is a unique person on his own life path--not a carbon copy of you! It sounds as if he is fully confident in his freedom to explore his own mind and the world before him with all it's variety--no doubt due to unconditional love.

I would also highly recommend "The Celestine Prophecy" by James Redfield (mentioned earlier). It is written as fiction, but it is very good at showing that ALL people are connected. I believe that it was a critical turning point and a huge boost to my self-esteem and personal views about all humankind.

I guess my only 2 cents of advice is this--continue encouraging him to research and read about ALL cultures and religions, read (or at least peruse) the things he reads so that you can understand what he's read and ask questions about his viewpoints afterwards, and help him to realize that there are 2 sides to all issues (for example, the accuracy of the bible based on "the stories" being written down many YEARS after things happened).

I think it's great that you have such an open view to your child's willingness to develop spiritually. I am positive that my own lack of support at a similar age crushed me internally for many years. Many hugs to you and yours, and I'm looking forward to meeting you (and hopefully your son and the rest of your family) at the New England Apostafest.

Becky

30

Beckyboop's story

by beckyboop in

well, i guess i work bass-ackwards sometimes.

i started posting on here about a year ago when i was moved by some threads.

i even helped to organize a local apostafest last may through the forum, but have never formally introduced myself.

beckyboop

Thanks ((((Nightwarrior)))))! Unfortunately, I don't post much on the forum. I do try to chime in when I'm particularly moved, and I like to read the variety of experiences and thoughts of many online. It makes me feel very good when people read my story and like it, because we ALL have our own stories to tell.

Becky

29

At what age did you join the Witnesses?

by JH in

jw
friends

.

at what age would a person have to be to join the witnesses and not suffer too much?.

if they are children, it robs their youth.. if they join in the teens, they won't get a decent education.. if they join at 20 years old, they will have to marry a witness.. if they join at 30, i guess that would be less destructive because they already are married, have children, have a house, an education and a job.. at what age did you join, and how did it affect you?

beckyboop

OOPS! Valis, I meant was your mom pregnant with you when she was baptized also?

And I forgot to mention how I was affected. I missed out on a "normal" childhood--teen dances, sports, college years, hobbies etc. So now, I try to explore many things and figure out what I like and am good at.

Becky

29

At what age did you join the Witnesses?

by JH in

jw
friends

.

at what age would a person have to be to join the witnesses and not suffer too much?.

if they are children, it robs their youth.. if they join in the teens, they won't get a decent education.. if they join at 20 years old, they will have to marry a witness.. if they join at 30, i guess that would be less destructive because they already are married, have children, have a house, an education and a job.. at what age did you join, and how did it affect you?

beckyboop

My mom was pregnant with me when she was baptized, and then I got baptized at 17. I left at about the age of 30, with my now ex-husband.

Valis, was your mom pregnant with you also? That's what your post sounded like.

Becky

30

Beckyboop's story

by beckyboop in

well, i guess i work bass-ackwards sometimes.

i started posting on here about a year ago when i was moved by some threads.

i even helped to organize a local apostafest last may through the forum, but have never formally introduced myself.

beckyboop

(((((Freedom 96)))))--Thanks for reading my story.

(((((Mystery))))))--Great idea about a book--let me know if it goes anywhere.

(((((Bittersweet))))--Thanks for responding--I too hope we'll be able to meet in May. Intuit 39 is an incredible person--and I'm the lucky one for having him in my life.

((((Sentinel))))--One of my hardest lessons to learn was that we don't ever run out of love (unless we stop giving it). It's not a limited supply; and like you said, the more we give out the more that comes back to us.

((((Gold-morning))))--I agree with the book idea. And I'd love to hear how our lives' were similar.

((((Sloboy))))--Bingo! "Not knowing" how life is going to turn out almost drove me crazy at first--we got so used to the idea of a paradise that we stopped living each day. I've finally learned to enjoy the uncertainty and live life to it's fullest (now I'm working on not being afraid of everything).

((((Redneck gurl))))--I personally believe that having people to talk to while going through leaving the dubs helps us tremendously to heal and move forward. Hopefully, you can meet friends at a local apostafest who can be moral support for you. There are MANY ex-jw's out there to be found; and many more online that you can also befriend through emails. Mine is [email protected] if you need someone to vent to.

((((Uncle Bruce))))--For some reason your posts always crack me up! And in answer to your question, no, it's probably not "natural"; but who said I was "natural" in the first place? I'm different, and I've gots lots of things to prove it....

((((Yesterday's Child))))--I agree! The more stories we read about each other just proves we are NOT alone!

Thanks again to everyone who read my story. I look forward to learning more about you all too.

Love,

Becky

22

Two witnesses witnessing to me.... LOL

by Vivamus in

jw
friends

aaaaargh!!!

guess who just stood at my door!!!!

two witnesses, two that did not know me, and so i kept them on my doorstep for almost an hour, and one even got angry at me.

beckyboop

(((((((((((((VIV)))))))))))))))

That's hilarious! They were probably ready to piss their pants because somebody at the door knew more than they did! It sounds like you handled that so good--and that's hard to do when they show up unexpectedly like that. And it's ok that you said your names--your mom doesn't seem to care and I doubt you do either.

A few months after we moved into our new house last year, I saw a carload of jw's park and start making their rounds. Because of the windows on our place, I could see them make their way around our block, and come up a different side. They even moved their car and parked it right in front of my house, but NOBODY came to my door! I was preparing myself mentally over and over, and waiting and waiting--and noone came. It blew my mind! I was torn between disappointment and relief.

Oh well, they probably wouldn't have liked the big Buddha sitting in our front hallway....anyway, loved your post (as usual), and looking forward to more posts that include your mom and aunt! (BTW, what was your email again? I forgot to write it down)

Becky

30

Beckyboop's story

by beckyboop in

well, i guess i work bass-ackwards sometimes.

i started posting on here about a year ago when i was moved by some threads.

i even helped to organize a local apostafest last may through the forum, but have never formally introduced myself.

beckyboop

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((CHARLIE))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

By the time I got to your post, the tears were pouring down! Thank you so much for our wonderful friendship. We've been through so much together (the good, bad, and ugly)--and we made it to the other side. I will never be able to express what your presence in my life means to me--but I think you know it anyway. I am so happy that we have been able to be happy for each other, and that we've had such an unconditional love.

And thanks again, for having the patience to deal with me while you were undergoing your own trials with the religion. You never pushed me to accept it--just let me figure it out with your reminders and little teasers of new found "enlightening" knowledge along the way. You have brought me such tremendous joy in a crazy life--and for that I am eternally grateful. I will love you always!

Becky