I sure can relate. When we first faded, my mom kept asking about my wife. Some conversations she'd ask how she was doing 3 or 4 times. She believed she had the fading problem all figured out. She is totally disinterested in anything that doesn't have a theocratic ring. If we do get into any subject she always manages to mention that things are sure getting worse in Satan's old system. If I do mention some personal point, I'm told to watch out what could happen. So my phone calls pretty much mirror yours. We do get to talk about the weather though.
Donations and charity – ha! That’s supporting Satan's old system and everybody knows none of the money ever gets to the persons who really need it anyway. The WT taught JW's to be old stingys, maybe they're regretting it since they brought in the donation arrangement.