WOW - Word Over the World

[tonto]

I posted a couple of pictures in my gallery...one of me getting my wow pin and one of me and some friends at our wow training.

[bulwinkl]

Thanks tonto, Great Pics!!!!

[tonto]

Thanks, Mr. Moose!

[Watered Garden]

Darn you guys are so much smarter than me! Waysider, it was indeed socialist living! One 3rd year FLO even kept some of my jewelry, a couple of silver and turquoise bracelets that my dad gave me mom when they were courting, locked up in her car in plain sight. She was outraged when I told her to get her keys RIGHT NOW and we would go get them. She simply didn't understand that I would object to them being hers as much as mine.

I was raised to be a good steward of everything I owned, not get in debt, but have the best I could afford. As a WOW and later as a FLO, I was virtually preyed upon. I had a nice set of dishes FLO wanted to use; they were getting distributed throughout all the apartments. I collected them, and mildly mentioned I would like them to stay together in the one apartment where I lived. The stuff hit the fan! I was selfish, self-centered and unloving! I loved my freakin' Franciscan Desert Rose dishes more than my brothers and sisters! Oh the shame of it all! So I boxed them up, put them in the basement, and took them back to my parents' house over Christmas (OH NO, HO-HO) break.

Unfortunately, it sometimes seemed to me that the heartiest proponents of socialist living were then ones who worked little, had little, and wanted what those of us who worked and earned had. Of course, that's socialism for you!

WG

[WordWolf]

(snip)

Unfortunately, it sometimes seemed to me that the heartiest proponents of socialist living were then ones who worked little, had little, and wanted what those of us who worked and earned had. Of course, that's socialism for you!

WG

IIRC,

that's one of the main criticisms of socialism.

At least, when I was taking Philosophy, that's what I read.

From what I've heard,

fast-trackers in twi tended to exemplify this, too.

Wanting a free ride on the wow field correlated with

wanting a free ride getting a twi paycheck for bossing people around.

(Not that every leader was like that, just the fast-trackers I've heard of.)

[Attack Gypsy]

Wow 85-86

Man, what a year.

Went from being someone who taught alot, did alot, gave everything of himself, was always self sufficient, to be only good enough to do the dishes.

That was it. That's all I was allowed to do. The dishes. No cooking (which I love and am a really GOOD cook), not teaching, nothing. Just do the dishes.

Had a Corps Field year for a family co-coordinator who always did the "listen and obey" crap. Told me they said I couldn't listen to my music (which was wrong. I was never told that in my training), that I couldn't play my guitar. (I ignored that one.)

I had a pretty decent job, making some decent money. I was told to get a different job because I didn't need to make that much money. I was told to go work at McDonald's. I was working construction, with a company that had no problem with my special hours requirements. My boss was a Muslim, so he understood "religious requirements" with no issue at all. I went to go buy a car, and was told "No, you don't need one, we already have a car in the house."

Ignored that one too.

Did I mention I was in OHIO too. Akron, to be specific.

Finally got fed up, and just started ignoring everyone, and did my own thing. When we got to get our pins, my family CO said "I'm going to see to it that you have to give that back. You didn't earn it." To which I replied "After spending a year with you, I earned alot more than this, now go f*** yourself".

And I walked away from her, and haven't seen her since.

Oh, and that was the year of defective WoW Pins, so we all got replacements. (I still have mine, sitting in a jewelry box.)

There were good times though. My other family members were great. At least they weren't into the "death camp chic" look. Gods, I hate women who look like that. I like a woman with some meat on her bones, not one with her bones sticking out.

AG

[A la prochaine]

Dear Catcup,

I cannot help you with filling in the blanks to your mysterious happenings on the wow field, but after I read your story I had a few questions.

Was your wow sister Stephanie pretty? Was she a cutesy type? or one who may have allowed herself to be preyed upon ??

The reason I ask is that after so many weeks of hiding ... it is amazing to me that Stephanie ONLY receive an 'A$$' kicking or was she kicked off the field? Or did she just not return because she no longer wanted to come back?

The reason I ask these questions is because I clearly remember a certain corps person who had disappeared from in-rez... and had even stolen money to boot from petty cash. We were all assembled to be given the details and people were asked if they possibly knew of her whereabouts.

A few weeks later (it may have been months) she returned... was reunited with the corpse family and all was forgiven.

This ALWAYS boggled my mind... how could she manage this and return??? Stolen money??? wow.... if that were me, I thought, I would have been publicly hung to dry by my feet and humiliated for every one to see.

As it turns out, she was a beautiful girl (striking would be more adequate) ... and I believe (because of other accounts that I know of today) that she was one of 'vp's' girls or at least... one he desperately wanted to get his mitts on. This may have been JUST the opportunity that allowed him to get his way... a sorta' blackmail... Come back honey... and service me and all will be forgiven.

A few years later, I met this woman at a ROA. She had married some red-neck yahoo character and was pretty much living a 'hillbilly' lifestyle.. sporting knee high black rubber boots (on a clear sunny day) and a disheveled appearance... she was clearly no longer the woman I had known her to be a few years before.

Was Stephanie at all 'devastated' when she had her A$$ kicked? or was she sorta' indifferent???

If this were the case, this could certainly be some telltale signs to her being taken advantage of.

of course, these are my speculations and observations only.....

[ChasUFarley]

Catcup - I wondered the same thing...

And your post about your WOW experience was gripping - great story!

[lapaglia]

So there I was was, in Tucson, on the waiting list for Minuteman when I get a call to go to Mesa AZ. One of the members of a family didn't show up. I got there 10 days after the rest of the family did. We have a straight laced Coordinator with a HOT newlywed wife. A guy named John and me. We lived in a 2 bedroom apartment for about 4 weeks then John and I got an unfurnished apartment in the same complex. The Coordinator was more interested in his wife and running our lives than doing the word. John was never really there. Like he was living almost on another plane of existence. Made things tough the first few months. No TV or Music in the apartment. All He and I did was play chess every night. Most of the time i won. But he had a habit of conceding the game when he could see he was trapped. I honestly don't think I did an end game the entire time. 20 moves in and he would resign. So I got tired of that. Borrowed a motorcycle from a friend in Jan. Started hanging out at the Corp Leaders house. My old band mate was living with him and we played a lot of music. It helps to have Paul Cuoco as the Branch leader if you like to play music. We had a blast. I was home for twig every night then gone. My coordinator made it clear that he was not to be bothered except during twig. So every night after twig I drove to the Branch leaders house and jammed until I had to go to work. I worked 12-6 AM at Jack in the Box. I can understand how John doesn't remember me being there as I wasn't really there a lot. My year was great! had fun, got some people in the class, but not at my twig. Learned the entire PDSTRO catalog. Dated a really cute wow sister. The strangest thing that happened was one morning on the way home from work the delivery driver gave me a 5 lb block of cheese. amercian sliced cheese. I got home and was really tired so I went to bed. Got up at 4 pm and looked in the fridge. The cheese was gone. I asked John and it seems he ate the entire 5 lbs! To this day I don't understand the concept of eating ALL of the only food in the house. The pretty much ended it for me with that family. I was there for twig and when I had to for a family meeting. I am amazed someone could eat that much cheese and not get sick, in about 8 hours no less! In any situation you get out what you put in to something. I had a good year. The rest of the family not so much. My fault as much as anyone else. I stopped putting forth any effort and my time with them suffered. But to be honest Id do it again. I took that year for me to grow and not worry about the rest of the family they were all WOW vets and knew how to make things happen but it seems, they chose not to.

So flash forward to here and I find my wow brother is here. I contact him a few times and nothing. So I wrote my version of the year we had. I would do it again and the same way. it prepared me for my 3rd and final year in Racine WI. That was a good year too. I met a wonderful woman. we got married, last week celebrated 30 years together. We left the ministry soon after we were married and got out before things were really bad. For me it was not a bad time. I learned a lot and grew a lot. But ya know, I still wonder how he ate all that cheese so fast.

:)

Michael LaPaglia

Good Measure

Edited October 3, 2007 by lapaglia

[dmiller]

Hey --- congrats on the 30 years!!!!

Since you know who he is -- click on the screen name.

It'll tell you when he was last active here.

Of course -- if it was recently, it sounds like an M&A job. :(

Edited October 3, 2007 by dmiller

[Belle]

So there I was was, in Tucson, on the waiting list for Minuteman when I get a call to go to Mesa AZ. One of the members of a family didn't show up. I got there 10 days after the rest of the family did. We have a straight laced Coordinator with a HOT newlywed wife. A guy named John and me. We lived in a 2 bedroom apartment for about 4 weeks then John and I got an unfurnished apartment in the same complex.

I can understand how John doesn't remember me being there as I wasn't really there a lot. My year was great! had fun, got some people in the class, but not at my twig. Learned the entire PDSTRO catalog.

The strangest thing that happened was one morning on the way home from work the delivery driver gave me a 5 lb block of cheese. amercian sliced cheese. I got home and was really tired so I went to bed. Got up at 4 pm and looked in the fridge. The cheese was gone.

I asked John and it seems he ate the entire 5 lbs! To this day I don't understand the concept of eating ALL of the only food in the house. ...............I am amazed someone could eat that much cheese and not get sick, in about 8 hours no less!

So flash forward to here and I find my wow brother is here. I contact him a few times and nothing. So I wrote my version of the year we had. I would do it again and the same way. it prepared me for my 3rd and final year in Racine WI. That was a good year too. I met a wonderful woman. we got married, last week celebrated 30 years together. We left the ministry soon after we were married and got out before things were really bad. For me it was not a bad time. I learned a lot and grew a lot. But ya know, I still wonder how he ate all that cheese so fast.

:)

Michael LaPaglia

Good Measure

Hi Michael,

I know you're not "new" here, but don't recall if you've been properly welcomed, so WELCOME! Besides at least some acknowledgment from John/Bulwinkl, what can I get for you?

All I can think of with the cheese story is that some of the WOWs were incredibly poor and underfed while in the program and I can think of quite a few who would have done the same thing.

What's the PDSTRO catalog?

I'm not all that familiar with the earlier bands and musicians, but I do know that we have lots of them here at the cafe. I'll see if I can find any of those nostalgic threads for you. They are always a lot of fun to read..... would be even moreso for you, I'm sure.

[WordWolf]

What's the PDSTRO catalog?

Short for the band name "Pressed Down, Shaken Together and Running Over".

It was one of the "earlier" bands, that is, before Acts 29, mostly.

IIRC, the song "Body, Soul and Spirit" was theirs and later covered by other bands.

[lapaglia]

Hi Michael,

I know you're not "new" here, but don't recall if you've been properly welcomed, so WELCOME! Besides at least some acknowledgment from John/Bulwinkl, what can I get for you?

All I can think of with the cheese story is that some of the Wows were incredibly poor and underfed while in the program and I can think of quite a few who would have done the same thing. :big laugh:

What's the PDSTRO catalog?

I'm not all that familiar with the earlier bands and musicians, but I do know that we have lots of them here at the cafe. I'll see if I can find any of those nostalgic threads for you. They are always a lot of fun to read..... would be even moreso for you, I'm sure.

Thanks for the welcome.

PDSTRO (Pressed down, shaken together and Running over) was the Ministry's version of CSN (Crosby, Stills and Nash) Great lyrics, good music and perfect harmonies. "Like an eagle", "Christ is Coming", "Pioneer" "The Way of Peace" and so many others. A really great group. It was Joe Fair, Paul Cuoco and Ralph Grahm. I know Joe is still active in the Music business in Nashville with his Son. Ralph and Paul I am not sure where they are at the moment. Great guys and GREAT music.

The way of Peace-----Click the play button on page A blast from the past for all the old timers.

Like an eagle-----Click the play button on the page. Another great song of theirs.

FYI now that you know that PDSTRO = "Pressed down, Shaken together and Running over" you might understand why my band was "Good Measure". Yep I always wanted to be their "Neil Young"

I wish all my wow family members well. I had a lot of fun going out 3 times. I spent a few weeks working at headquarters on the video equipment. Fell in love with Stanley Reheard while i was there. She wound up marrying my wife and I. It was her first marriage. She did good because it stuck :)

I'll stop rambling for the moment. But there are a lot of good memories from those times. If you can dig up the threads you were talking about that would be great. You know you are old when your life is part of a nostalgia thread :D

Michael.

Edited October 7, 2007 by lapaglia