Hi Beach girl,

I respect your feelings. I remember having similar feelings about the assemblies; the togetherness, meeting new people, seeing sweet young ladies in their nice new dresses, and the feeling of having "friends" all around.

I was in for a total of 8 years, and went to about 6 or 7 district assemblies, and I guess around 14 or 15 circuit assemblies. At the last district convention, which was in August of 1988, I only attended about a day and a half, and, it was a pretty lonely. I actually went to SF and the Cow Palace, instead of here at Dodger stadium.

I just couldn't relate to the people. I guess I was deciding whether I wanted to be a witness or not, and it seemed more "no" than "yes."

My conclusion about the "togetherness," and everything that goes along with it: We can feel this togetherness if we go along with everything, and we are the right kind of person the witnesses like, but if we do something wrong, we get shunned, and it hurts even more because of how we felt when things were going well.

But I did not want to conform to their standards, only to realize that if I did not fit in, I could or would be disapproved and shunned again. I did not like that kind of system. I think it is manipulation.

So I hope you can clear your head, and do what is best for you; what is in your heart. If you feel like going, then perhaps it could be a good idea to go. You see beachgirl, you have a desire to go. I did not have a desire to go; I did it out of a sense of obligation, and when I was there, I found myself asking, "what am I doing here?"

So perhaps if you go, maybe you'll find yourself asking the same question as I did, or you could decide that you might want to try and get back in to things. I think if you go, you should be open to both possibilities, which having a real choice, may help you make the best decision that is right for you.

Take care, and thanks for sharing,
Pauley