My mother and father always insisted that they knew where I was. Not only that, they made special arrangements to be with me wherever I would go. I couldn't go anywhere without them. When other children on the block would be playing in the streets or later, in their teen years, down at the local pool hall, I would be with my "mean" parents going from house to house. I was learning how to do different things around the house. When the other teenagers were out dragging in sports cars or smoking pot, my "mean" parents had me with them at the congregation meetings. I never got to experience a night in jail. I never got to know what it was like to get drunk and get thrown in jail. I never got to know what it was like to get drunk and get thrown out of bars. But no, my "mean" parents, "Jehovah's Witnesses" and I were busy going to New York, California, Kansas and other parts
of the country to attend conventions.

My "mean" parents never let me be exposed to any of the worldly celebration. All I ever do is go to meet and get acquainted with the ones that Jesus Christ has selected to rule with him as Kings and Priests over all mankind.

I never can look back and recall the good old days, just sitting around doing nothing. That never happened with me having "mean" parents. There was always too many things to be done. They never allowed me to date or to associate with others just my own age. Instead, I had to associate with ones who were older in years spiritually. Ones that were in the service for many, many years.

My "mean" parents even went so far as to map out my future for me. Instead of a college education they started making plans for me early in life. They even took it upon themselves to decide that they wanted me to live on this earth and share in the work of making it into a paradise. They have done everyting in thier power to make that desire a reality. Imagine living in a beautiful paradise earth forever. Never having to know the thrills of men's wars, never having experienced the thought of knowing that you have taken the lives of your fellowmen in war.

My "mean" parents were strict. They wouldn't permit any wrong doing on my part. I don't know the experience of having to go to the doctor because of diseases common to persons indulging in immoral conduct. I don't know the problem of having an unwanted child. Instead, they insisted that I wait until I was grown and strong spiritually before they permitted me to date. And then, only because it was someone of their liking, someone that would be the same disposition that they were.

So I married someone who met the high standards of my "mean" parents. He, too, was raised by "mean" parents, and together, we have decided that we intend to be the same kind of "mean parents ours were.