I won’t open a pic of Marty, and probably not one of a cute woman, since that sort of wog “mail” usually is SPAM of the worst sort.

I. too, am not much of a church-hgoer, so might be called non-religious. BUT, I do get religious experiences, most often while contemplating nature in an appropriate venue: watching a storm roll up to the mountain we’re resting on, observing the Canada geese flock up in the skies above Maryland’s Eastern shore, Contemplating the Universe sprawling above us on a clear night, diving a good spot in the Carribean; Playing with a newborn, watching some of the astronomical shows on Science & realizing the universe’s complexity might just require a “big guy” out there orchestratinng it all; that sorts of things.

still, I’ve matured past the days of yore when I believed in magical thinking(or should I say Magickal?)

I smoked like a chimney for 45 or so years, until, my doctors told me, they caused a stroke. ‘Twas a minor one as these things go, but it’s never minor when neurons are wiped out wholesale. Ten years later, I’ve been kept strictly away from them, and can categorically state I don’t now smoke, but am NOT an ex-smoker. I’m STILL addicted and would go back to 10 packs a week if I could get my hands on them. Much as I dispise Dwarfenführer and anything he stands for, I don’t wish smoking’s medical problems even on him. That sort of meanness is more HIS style than ours. WE, if we can, support the Aftermath Foundation to help those still in get out into the real world, where altruism and good will both exist and are valued.

Salem in October is insane

Maybe..for boys..or hungry people. ?

But it would make for great television!

I get it. We’re in agreement then. (I forgot the Scientologese for that. Hehe)

I had recently been handed their client file & one very rainy day, her husband came in to pick up what was then known as “surplus food authorization”. I went to our reception window & noticed a man around 5 ft 10 in wearing a long tan trench coat, hat, knee length rubber boots, carrying a black umbrella…he was wearing black glasses & had very short hair(not the norm for the late 1960’s). When I called his name he came to the window & we went to one of our interview rooms to talk.

He was very mild mannered, soft spoken & very polite….he seemed out of place for someone in the 1960’s like Sheriff Andy Taylor from Mayberry would have been in mode of dress & demeanor. After he left, I nearly burst out laughing thinking to myself “THIS man is the father of the then 7 children”…..as a few of my associates asked who he was…they too were quite surprised. They could not imagine him getting “down to business with the Mrs”.

I visited their home several times along those years. After baby #9 was born, as I held the infant, her mother went on about “How God had given her 9 beautiful healthy children & then HE knew she had been faithful to fill the be fruitful & multiple doctrine, & HE had given her the Blessing of ending her child conceiving & delivering journey”…
Wow, that was a real eye opener.

Fortunately for them, another agency had given them around $1000 & floated them a very low interest loan so they could add 2 bedrooms & 1/2 bath to their small home…again “another reward from God”……

I could write a book about all the “adventures” with social services, those stories would spin a few heads….maybe someday!

George wants to open a museum..He should! The tub of butter fight sounds..well..gross..?

Missed editing this: “…not helping the world to get up!”

Great comment, Cat, thank you. I agree with you on the definition of “science” .Totally. No arguments! I was merely writing from the viewpoint of my mother’s friend. For HER, the novenas were “science”. In HER viewpoint, the novenas became “science”. That doesn’t make them science. It was just her consideration that they were. And Scientology is very likely an art form, and not at all the science LRH claimed it was.