Watered Garden

I meant to add that before we ever lived in Florida, someone on the street told of us a scandal that occurred in Florida as a result of VPW's 'ministering' there.

WG

Any names available? (without getting us into trouble of course)

I only counted 5.?????

WG

Many years ago, we lived in Florida and I seem to recall going to a conference in the Panhandle, Pensacola maybe, and these folks had been Wayfers forever there. It seems that VP and Mrs. had 'ministered' there in the 1950s or 1960s, pre-taping of PFAL.

Do any of you few veterans of TWI-1 remember anything about that?

WG

It is unfortunate that they are newsworthy; a good ignoring would shut them down.

They are not about God; they are about Mr. Phelps who heads their little band of miscreants.

Where do they get the money to do this travel and smear-as-you-go campaign, anyway?

WG

Now that I think more clearly, you are correct. Emporia was opened in 1974. In fact, I think some WOW branches were invited to the grand opening and my 4th WC WOW "sister" and a couple of her cronies may have actually gone.

I don't recall learning much Bible in those two years, but I can tell a weed from a radish, which endeared me to my future husband's heart right away.

I also learned, to J*m Mil*ne's dismay, what creosote will do when poured on a lawn. Poured, not even spilled. I learned to hate eggplant, Swiss chard, and mustard greens.

WG

Deja vue all over again!

I had a gentleman from TWI, graduate of the WC spouse program and his little wife, a 6th WC grad, tell me they would boot their 3 year old daughter down the driveway to the street and out of their lives and never think of her again if she interfered with their ability to "do The Word." Probably would have, too.

And these people call themselves Christians? They are worse than the jihadists of 9/11/2001 because they should know better!

WG

I was once told that the WC was getting too big to handle at one locale and so they were having FL programs to see if they could do in-state WC type programs to supplement the WC. I was there 1976-77 and during that time they acquired I think Emporia and I know Rome City in 1977, so I am pretty sure Broken Arrow is right.

And for me personally the FLO program was not a complete loss; I met my wonderful Mr. Garden there!

WG

Second year in FLO, those of us who did not go to the PFAL-2 or whatever it was in Muncie, got shipped over to RC to weed the extensive veggie gardens. It was a grueling drive from central Ohio on a Friday night, greeted with practically no food. Slept in a bunk bed, badly, and then rousted out to a really disgusting breakfast, which, I was informed, was "extremely healthful and highly nutritious." It still tasted like dang.

I had a migraine when I woke up and was promptly reproved and sent out to weed potatoes and kill the innumerable potato bugs thereon. Tried and tried, finally went back to the big building and asked for some aspirin or something. Gasps of horror greeted my request. There were absolutely NO medications to be had. Here's some water. We could pray for you. Where WAS my BELIEVING? I finally said to hell with it and crept back to my little bunk bed to sleep it off. No dice. I was found, reproved again, rousted out to the garden.

That was my first experience with Rome City and I wish to God it had been my last.

WG

I agree with Waysider...we sang that in FLO after every communal meal, complete with gestures. Every one of them. Not only boring but stupid. Mindless repetition. Dumber than dirt.

WG

At least one of the authors of those glowing reports, which I've not time nor inclination to read too carefully, needs to learn the different spelling for "rapeling" and "repelling." I can see how this program could be "repelling," though.

WG

To clarify my previous post, we spent three months at RC and after that 2 years 9 months in TWI, then thank God - F.R.E.E.D.O.M.!

wg

Just looking at the pictures makes me want to vomit in technicolor. The beginning of the worst three years of my life spent in that hell-hole. I recognize some of the equipment - the "Hobart" stuff.

What they put unsuspecting folks through at that place, especially children!

WG

I'm very sorry for your loss.

WG

Wasn't there some guy who wrote a book about being gay and the lifestyle and getting delivered by PFAL and being in the WC and all? I believe this person even was married. From his book, fictionalized as it was and truly weird as it was, it was apparent he idolized VPW and yet I think he eventually divorced his wife and went back to the lifestyle of a gay man.

Just a fleeting memory.

WG

Not as much as some hapless souls, because we always believed in home ownership. I still do. If you are not overloaded with a bunch of debt, car payments, five billion credit cards, what is the difference between renting a home and making a mortgage payment? I know one argument is maintenance, upkeep and improvements, but you still usually have to mow the yard and make minor repairs yourself. When we did rent, we always tried to leave the place a little better than we found it.

And of course we were never WC so didn't have to expect to move every whipstitch.

WG

Can't listen to it because there's no barf emoticon on this thing.

I pity the fools, I really do.

Those gas pumps in July weren't the only snow job; that's guy's whole life was a snow job.

WG

"Perhaps" given a sedative? How about a case of whiskey chased with Propofol?

Sounds all kinds of yuck, still.

Mr. Garden and I perused the 3/4 picture and he agrees. "That is too you!" he said but couldn't remember the dress, either. Hopefully my taste has improved.

Who is the guy to your immediate left, and the girl to his immediate left? We couldn't find C*ndy Anders*n, either.

And who is the hair-challenged fellow on the right between Norbert and Larry?

WG

It wasn't Athens, it was Delaware, the second time when we came back from the Left Coast.

Thanks for posting it. I don't think I'm in the 3/4 one but maybe that's me in the second row almost all the way to the right in a very ugly dress. Surely I wouldn't have worn such a dress.

Kind of interesting.

WG

My heartfelt sympathy for your loss. You are so right. It sucks.

One of my vets told me he just doesn't think it's fair that dogs don't live 60 or 70 years, like we do.

WG

What's up with the location being The Way of Ohio?? Are these guys still/once again active TWI? I knew Laura when I lived in Athens and have seen her once at work.

Somehow I don't feel quite the same about the experience as Don is suggesting - took what we learned - I am not sure I learned any great truths. I know a bit about growing vegetables.

WG

My understanding is that you are not even sedated as you are for a colonoscopy. When I typed these reports, a good while back. They started by suturing the upper lid to the eyebrow and the lower lid to the cheekbone. They then put drops in the eye to dilate it. They use a scalpel to slice the eye open,(this is called a "stab wound") insert a needle and shoot in some viscous Xylocaine (some doctors didn't even use that). Then they sever the ligaments that hold your lens in place, crush it with forceps, suck out the pieces and insert a new, artificial lens. After ascertaining it is in the correct position, they suture your eyeball closed and patch you and send you home.

I think I'd rather go blind. I don't drive that much, anyway.

WG

Broken Arrow, my dad died in 1992 when we were apprentice FWC and I felt angry and cheated for years. I thought it was the devil trying to get us away from our goal of becoming a grreeeaaattt man and woman of God.

I wasn't able to grieve for him honestly until my mother died. We were out then, but still the pain remained. At least by the time my last relative, an aunt, from that generation passed, I was able to see that death is the natural culmination of life, and not something to be blamed for.

Here's a song that comforted Mr. Garden and me greatly when Mr. Garden's mother died a couple of years back:

One more grandchild and I'll probably have "Green Eggs and Ham" memorized.