So I have a fascination with polygamy. Not the I-want-to-join fascination but more of a train wreck I-can't-stop-staring fascination. It was really a problem when I lived in St. George, Utah when the plygs would come to town. My roommates would have to hit me on the arm and lead me away.
I don't know why, either.
There's a new book out that I have been dying to get my hands on called "Hidden Wives." It's a work of non-fiction but based on real experiences by women who have left polygamy. As I was leaving my house to go to work today, I checked the mailbox and found it had arrived. I grabbed it and hoped I'd have some down-time to start reading it.
My Texas colleague has a son who married a girl whose parents have gone totally wacky. They've shored up their resources and bought food for a couple of years and firearms. They are currently holed up in a little town in Utah and we were discussing the possibility that they've gone fundamental when we were rudely interrupted by having to work.
My victims came into my office and I started the registration process. It was a father and his 16 year old daughter who needed to register for school. Did they have a transcript from her last school? No. Okay, I'll request it. Where did she go to school? She was homeschooled and then attended a southern Utah school. Do they have a copy of her immunizations? No, she has exemptions. I glanced at the mother's name and noted it was different from the father's name. I'm going to need proof of guardianship, does he have a copy of the divorce decree? He stuttered a little and finally said that no, they are still together.
Minus the gingham dress, long braid (on her) and the plaid shirt with a string tie and Wranglers, I had a classic polygamist in my office.
I am such an idiot. It just occurred to me (right this second) that he may not be her father, after all.
Ew.
I don't know why, either.
There's a new book out that I have been dying to get my hands on called "Hidden Wives." It's a work of non-fiction but based on real experiences by women who have left polygamy. As I was leaving my house to go to work today, I checked the mailbox and found it had arrived. I grabbed it and hoped I'd have some down-time to start reading it.
My Texas colleague has a son who married a girl whose parents have gone totally wacky. They've shored up their resources and bought food for a couple of years and firearms. They are currently holed up in a little town in Utah and we were discussing the possibility that they've gone fundamental when we were rudely interrupted by having to work.
My victims came into my office and I started the registration process. It was a father and his 16 year old daughter who needed to register for school. Did they have a transcript from her last school? No. Okay, I'll request it. Where did she go to school? She was homeschooled and then attended a southern Utah school. Do they have a copy of her immunizations? No, she has exemptions. I glanced at the mother's name and noted it was different from the father's name. I'm going to need proof of guardianship, does he have a copy of the divorce decree? He stuttered a little and finally said that no, they are still together.
Minus the gingham dress, long braid (on her) and the plaid shirt with a string tie and Wranglers, I had a classic polygamist in my office.
I am such an idiot. It just occurred to me (right this second) that he may not be her father, after all.
Ew.
I had to read that twice to get the "Ew" at the end, but now, EW!!!! I got the "victims" the first time though!
ReplyDeleteWould it surprise you much to know that I knew real life polygamists? It's true. So not my cup of tea....unless I had two husbands....hmmm, now that has possibilities!
ReplyDeleteIt NEVER is two husbands, is it? Had a short fantasy of TWO men doing my bidding...it's over now.
ReplyDeleteBesides, I prefer one partner/victim at a time, it allows me to specialize.
I remember seeing the polygamist family on 20/20 a long time ago, and wondered what Kool-Aid those young wives were drinking...
Ewwww indeed. I have to wonder what makes a woman think it's a good idea to share a husband.
ReplyDeleteI have never understood myself either. And the more I read or see about it, the more disgusted I get.
ReplyDeleteI guess to each his own, but leave the young girls ALONE. If a woman over the age of 21 wants to do that, fine, but leave the babies alone. And unfortunately, they don't.
oh that is an eeewww.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen such a thing but I would stare too if I did :)
Ew AND sad. Wow.
ReplyDeleteUm, yeah. Ew.
ReplyDeleteWe don't get many polygamists on the east coast. It's so far removed from my everyday that it still catches me by suprise that it exists!
ReplyDeleteI can't even stand the thought, it's so degrading, disgusting and downright just.. I don't know. I can't think about it. It's just so wrong, it would make me feel so unloved.
ReplyDelete