Attending non-Witness events can be a challenge!

[DancesWithWife]

I am trying to discontinue the use of the term "worldly people or events" with non-Witness. That being said, I have found as I have gotten older and the atmosphere of such events has changed. I was watching on YouTube some videos by A&E showing how security works at NFL games. How there are cameras everywhere watching the fans. I did not want to post here as most of the more profane language has been censored. Some of the more colorful profanities are not censored. 

 

I have not been to a big sporting event or concert in years other than a JW Convention. I have found it getting more and more to be a challenge to go and not be affected by the crowd around you. Plus the cost has just gotten out of control!  My first concert in 1977 was $8 for a major band and 4 other bands. I took my dad and I to a Seattle Seahawk game, level 1 40 yard line seats $8. And parking was pretty cheap. And the ticket fee was 50 cents for each ticket!

 

I watch the crowds at these events and glad not to be a part of them! I no longer have a love of sports. I like to watch a game now and then. Same with concerts. Now that so many can be seen on YouTube I get to see some of the artists I like. For those of you that enjoy going to the games or concerts, what precautions do you take when surrounded my so many non-JW? It can be a challenge for sure!

 

 

[Witness1970]

I noticed that for several years I have gotten less and less interested in sports.  I, like you, watch some sporting events each year, but not many.  They are just not that interesting.  One thing that started me becoming less interested in sports was the injuries that have at times ruined the lives on participants.

 

With non-witness funerals I don't attend because of a different reason.  Most of my relatives live several hours away.  At my age travel is difficult.  I may send something, but I am unable to travel that far for any reason.

 

The last non-witness funeral I attended was several years ago.  The truth is I didn't like hearing the lies being spouted by the speakers.

[jdcarlson]

I have also given up on "worldly" events.

 

I came to this decision about 50 years ago.

 

I wanted to be a jazz musician since high school. I even tried a few "gigs" and found out I needed a day job if I wanted to eat regularly😊.

 

I greatly enjoy live music played well.

 

After moving to Pensacola, I wanted to attend a Classical Music Concert at a local venue. I was really looking forward to it. The bad part was when the conductor came on stage, he immediately turned around to face the audience and the Orchestra struck up Star Spangled Banner.

 

I should have realized that would happen here. Pensacola Naval Air Station is the home base of the Navy Blue Angels precision flying demonstration team. For decades any Navy or Marine pilot spent at least three months of the training regimen in Pensacola. One of the local radio talk show hosts (now deceased) called Pensacola "the mother-in-law of the Navy" because many flight students (starting with WWII, then Vietnam, etc., to the present) would end up marrying girls they met during their training stint at Pensacola Naval Air Station.

 

There a LOT of retired military living in Pensacola.

 

I live in a retirement complex. I am in the "independent living" section, and my wife of over 61 years is in the Alzheimer's/dementia section. I believe over 60% of the residents in the "independent living" section (where I am) are retired military. In the dining room I can hear their discussions of what Naval bases where they were stationed, what ships they served one, what planes they flew, etc. I typically eat at a table for one, but I can still hear their conversations from nearby tables.

 

So, I should not have been surprised at the national anthem being played at a concert.

 

I truly miss live orchestral music. When I lived in St. Louis there was never a problem with the national anthem, and there were a lot of "events" that could be attended.  That is one thing I miss (but I do not miss the snow in the winter😊). 

 

Thanks,

 

Jim

 

 

 

[pnutts]

7 hours ago, jdcarlson said:

snow

4 letter word. Out west in Canada they had 86 F or more temp, then snow then tornadoes in one week. yup 4 letter word