Welcome Clever!

I have the tendency to connect almost everything in life back to the organization ("Oh look at how my Rice Krispies are floating in the milk - why that reminds me exactly of the Governing Body!"), so it was no surprise that when I went to see the Broadway show "Wicked" the other night, I was in tears because it reminded me SO much of the org. 

It's the "true" story of how the Wicked Witch of the West came to be. *Spoiler alert!* It turns out - she was the good one. So smart, and kind, and good. But through a set of terrible circumstances, she was labeled by all of OZ to be THE WICKED WITCH! Her whole life (She was terribly bullied and cast aside because she was born green) she was miscast as odd and weird and a total freak. 

It SO made me think of how everyone I know still in the org. believes me to be something I am truly not. I can't fight it. The temptation is there to do something drastic like drive past the KH and give them all the finger or put signs all over my lawn telling all passers-by how evil the Society is. And there are times when I feel like the freak they think I am. 

But I know the truth. And everyone who is in our shoes (ruby or otherwise) knows the truth. That's why it is so nice to have a forum like this where us Wicked Witches and Warlocks can hang out together and stay strong. 

Oh, and BTW, I have reconnected with my 1st cousin who only ever knew me to be a weird JW. He was wonderful and so understanding. I have found most non-JW's to be very understanding when we come clean!

Valerie