Tex

Hi all, Just wanted to tell you about my blog, Thriving Reality, which I've been running for a few years. I started it to create a platform for my book "Losing the Way" and now it's taken on a life of it's own. Some of you may already know about it but I figured with the closing of GSC, it might be a useful forum for us in which to meet and communicate, although NOTHING can replace GSC. Pawtucket has done an INCREDIBLE job and we will miss him and the site. Thank you, P. Oh, the address for Thriving Reality is: Losingtheway.blogspot.com. Come check it out. I'd love to hear/see you.

love, kristen

Thank you, everyone, for listening with such intensity to the podcast. The discussions are eye-opening and harrowing. Thank you for your compassion. I'm so sorry to think that anyone else was "V-Porized" like I was. As for the book, I think this is the low point, well, it gets worse but THEN it gets better! So fear not. We all got through it and survived. That's the important thing. Now onto thriving. If anyone wants to write me privately, my e-mail address is kskedgell@gmail.com. be well, all of you. love, kristen

Hi, Thanks for all these comments about the podcast. The discussion is fascinating. I have a blog in which I respond to some of these concerns. If you'd like to check out the blog, please come to http://losingtheway.blogspot.com. I always welcome your comments there as well. Thanks again for listening.

But we agreed to it. If we didn't, we could always leave. Ya can't seriously claim victimhood when there was always a way to escape from being "a victim."

It's so wild that you chose that song. Jackson Browne was the one who "brought me back" to civilization after I left TWI in 1985. I mean, I listened to his songs non-stop and tried to catch up on everything I'd missed during the last fifteen years (minus the cocaine etc). When someone asked me for a phrase that described me during a school orientation sesssion, I chose "running on empty." I guess it's a very common feeling for may cult survivors. The Cult Awareness Day idea for MTV is fabulous!!! How can we make it happen? tex

It would have to feature a Wowmobile and the Jackson Browne song "Running on Empty"

Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels

Looking back at the years gone by like so many summer fields

In sixty-five I was seventeen and running up one-on-one

I don't know where I'm running now, I'm just running on

Running on-running on empty

Running on-running blind

Running on-running into the sun

But I'm running behind

Gotta do what you can just to keep your love alive

Trying not to confuse it with what you do to survive

In sixty-nine I was twenty-one and I called the road my own

I don't know when that road turned into the road I'm on

Running on-running on empty

Running on-running blind

Running on-running into the sun

But I'm running behind

Everyone I know, everywhere I go

People need some reason to believe

I don't know about anyone but me

If it takes all night, that'll be all right

If I can get you to smile before I leave

Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels

I don't know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels

I look around for the friends that I used to turn to to pull me through

Looking into their eyes I see them running too

Running on-running on empty

Running on-running blind

Running on-running into the sun

But I'm running behind

Honey you really tempt me

You know the way you look so kind

I'd love to stick around but I'm running behind

You know I don't even know what I'm hoping to find

Running into the sun but I'm running behind

Thank you, Paw and thank you, John, This discussion was very helpful especially in light of "The Secret" a book which has gained a lot of attention from Oprah and others on the "Law of Attraction" - what we once called the "law of believing." I'm relieved to know that it is the relationship and grace that count with God and not our obedience to some law. Frankly, I'm a flop at the "law" but when I "cast my cares", everything else seems to fall into place. I was so relieved. The interview was like cool rain to parched ground. Thank you! tex

Hi, I'm still new to this forum so forgive me if I do something wrong and those weird little yellow peole show up, barking at me. I lost my Mom to Alzheimer's last Memorial Day and it's seemed kind of unreal since then. It was she who utimately rescued me from the mess my life had become in The Way. She set me on my feet, gave me a push and said "Get moving. There's a lots of life left to live." Of course, with two young children, divorced and thrown out of the Corps, I wasn't much up to hearing that but I had no choice , so I went on with my ife and Im glad I did. She ws a very strong-minded, strong-willed person, not the metarnal type but a great role-model on how to survive in the world. ( I wrote a blurb about her on my bog is anyone is interestested. It's called http://losingtheway.blogspot.com. You have to access it by the top top bar of your computer - not by google or anywhere else if you want to check it out.) I feel sad about losing her, for the times when she was there for me and the times she did nurture me. Now it's up ot me to learn to nurture mysef and an fifty+, that's no small order. But its never too late to learn. Thanks for listening. tex

p.s. I just broke my ankle yesterday walking down the stairs. Now I guess I'll have a lot of time to think about her.

well hi 8th Corps, it's been years since I popped my head above the ground and decided to venture back. Glad to know you're all still here. I've written a book about the "underbelly" of the Corps experience - the secret Corps within the Corps - Dr. W's "chosen." Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Did anyone else have to carry around the "lockbox?" how many were there of us? tex

Hi everyone, I'm new to the cafe and am very glad to be here. I feel like I've been lost in the wilderess for a good twenty years and have finally arived home.

let me tell you a little about myself. I joined TWI at fourteen and was one of the "Groovy Christians of Rye, New York. " Went to school then joined the 8th Corps. There I encountered Wierwille's "lockbox"and was subjected to his advances for several years. "Advances" is a nice way of puttng it. But I feel like I've been in the desert for all these years slogging my way through the rubble of The Way.

I've put a pretty nice life together - got remarried, raised three kids, went back to school, started a career. All the good stuff, but the memories and damage remains. Like losing a leg, you never quite recover, you just learn to cope.

I've written a book about my experience called Losing The Way and its going to be published in June'08 by a small press out West. It's very exciting but sad, too. I just want to help other people who have been through similar traumas move on and create new lives.

So that's about it about me. Just wanted to introduce myself and see who else is out there. This is a great service you have and are providing. I'm glad to be here, tex