This past weekend, I was in Grand Junction for Mother's wedding to Randy Thompson, my new step-father. On Saturday morning Jarrett and I drove to Palisade to set-up the reception hall. The reception was held in the Palisade Veterans' Community Center. Jarrett and I along with my mother's friend Rebecca, moved all of the tables and chairs into the hall along with table coverings. Jarrett knew Rebecca, I didn't, and I had to refrain from responding to some of Rebecca's comments. I find it curious that while she went on about how "good" she was at being "worldly person" (In Jehovah Witness jargon it is the category for everyone who is not in the religion) with longing in her voice. I would have liked to ask what if preventing this woman from being her true self? Was her longing for her youth that she gave up? What specific activities are there that are wrong but she wishes she could still engage in if she wasn't a Jehovah Witness? I can understand having destructive weaknesses that a healthy human must refrain from participating in but I didn't get that impression from Rebecca. Her longing was for some alternative sex or lifestyle or for some avenues freedom of expression that she is prevented from because of her religious beliefs. This interaction made me worry about seeing more JW's later in the day. I dreaded getting lectured about Jehovah Witnesses religion by any of the people I knew back when I still lived with parents (another aspect about Mom's wedding was that it was personal time-warp for me, seeing people I hadn't seen in fifteen or so years). This didn't turn out to be the case.
Jarrett and I finished setting up with about an hour to get back to Grand Junction, get dressed, and then back to Clifton for Mom's wedding at 11:30 at the Kingdom Hall (another JW jargon, basically their church building). I went over to my Dad's apartment, showered and dressed, and then rapidly drove to wedding with five minutes to spare. Arriving at the Kingdom Hall, the parking lot was packed and my heart dropped. I hurried indoors and was initially took back with large crowd. I finally found my mother and I then after a small delay, the ceremony started. I walked Mom down the hallway with everyone staring at us. Mom was dressed in a very nice cream-colored outfit (not a wedding dress thank-god) and I handed her off to Randy before sitting down next to my sister Jill. Jill was holding my new three-month old niece and then the wedding sermon began. All I'll say (without being too much of dick) was the talk was a flashback to many, many, boring hours listening to the same bullshit in this same building with many of same people. I don't think this is unique to Jehovah Witnesses, but I am too familiar with dogma and strict fundamentalism of this sect and hearing many of the same themes sprouted from
these people made me long for the quiet and simplicity of a Quaker meeting. Before the vows, the older man marrying my mother (called an elder) and Randy asked who gave this woman away. I stood up and said that "her family does" which caused some laughter in the hall (what was I supposed to say, I do? WTF). This was the first time I spoke at JW meeting in as many years and hopefully it is the last.
After the ceremony, I drove to Palisade. When I arrived the hall was filling up. Mom and Randy finally showed up and the community center was packed. I didn't recognize most of the people there and those that I did, I really didn't talk to much other than saying hello. None of these people, who I knew well and who either watched me grow up or who I grew up with, asked about what I was doing or what I had been doing all of these years. The lack of curiosity about any life outside of the religion is just another hallmark of this religion. My own life from a very early age has been a counter-example to the standard official narrative for those of us who grew up as a Jehovah Witness but do not become active adult members. I did not end up in prison or living on the streets as a drug addict. My spiritual journey has grown and expanded past the rigor and conformity of Jehovah Witnesses and contrary to their propaganda, I have never felt the presence of an entity such as they describe Jehovah to be, that such a creationist and world view is counter to all of available evidence, and that alternative, more expansive spiritual positions exist with greater freedom and responsibility without being tied to strict theological position towards God.
After the reception, Jarrett and I drove to Mom's house to chill out, smoke, and drink some alcohol. Judd and his family arrived a little bit later. It was comical as I hurriedly emptied our drinks and tried to hide my bottle of whiskey when my mother and Randy unexpectedly arrived. We laughed and talked for bit and then my nephew Keegan busted us when he reached and grabbed the empty bottle from my pocket. I made a comment that I felt not almost 36 but still in my teenage years, hiding alcohol from Mom.
About an hour later, Jarrett and I drove back to Grand Junction and picked up Jesse. My brother Jesse was not invited to the reception because he had disassociated himself from the religion and too many Witnesses would not to interact with him in a social settings without getting into trouble. My brother Jake did not attend either out of solidarity with Jesse. I get that groups have membership rules and everything but give me a break, not allowing one of brothers to attend his mother's wedding because of stupidity and ignorance is just another of many, many reasons I am not Jehovah Witness. The family dinner was nice, it was catered, and I was able to meet Randy's two daughters, both of whom are not Jehovah Witnesses. After the dinner, I stopped by Dad's to pick up my things, and then dropped off Jesse. My sister Angie came with us so she could pick up some things from Mom's house before I drove her back to Clifton to stay with friends. Jarrett and I stayed the night at Mom's house.
The next morning Jarrett and I drove back to Grand Junctions where Jarrett fixed a breakfast sandwich with venison sausage from his successful kill earlier this fall. It was the best breakfast I have had in recent memory. After finishing the meal, Jarrett and I drove out to Mack and saw my grandfather Rossman and Dee. Grandpa was doing better than the last time I saw him in Veterans Hospital. We has a good visit and then I drove back to Grand Junction, visited Jake and his girls, before driving back to Gunnison. Jarrett may be coming up this weekend to go Salmon snagging but with snow (it snowed when I woke up and it is still snowing now) I don't know if he'll come up now.
We are not having an Aikido class tonight although I will swing by after I get out of the Senate meeting this afternoon.
