Church Memory

[Guest guest]

Hi KOs,

Posting to the " Top 5 " list triggered a memory...

Starting from about the time I was 10 or so, and continuing all

throughout the rest of my time living under nada's roof, I remember

that nada would often burst into tears at some point during the church

service. She'd make such a spectacle of it that the entire pew would

get involved in comforting her.

When I was younger I'd feel bad for her - what would make her so sad

that she'd cry like that? Then as I got older, and started listening to

the comments and interpreting the looks sent my way, I realized the

source of her angst was her family. An abusive husband, and abusive

children. And there I was, the source her unbearable sadness and

misery, sitting right next to her.

During my later high school years I sat away from her, across the

church, but her " comforters " would always find me with their accusatory

looks. At that point she'd act out her little performance 3 out of 4

Sundays.

Once I left for college I went back to that church only one time. The

pastor gave me that same look I had remembered for all those years, and

I never went back there.

I'm glad that memory came up, because it helps to explain (at least in

part) why I get migraines whenever I step inside a church.