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G. K. Chesterton's short book entitled "Orthodoxy" examines the idea of pushing beyond the rigidities that the concept of orthodoxy evokes. He writes in the closing pages about this work being a journey. He says we arrive at its end and find ourselves actually back at the place of our departure ....and we see it again as"for the first time". Maybe love and loyalty are a bit like that--but maybe because I am just too lazy to be a dogmatist-- which he is not.

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I like it: this sounds like a spiraling hero's journey of sorts. Love and loyalty have certainly been filled with monsters, mishaps and greatest accomplishments.

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Beautifully articulated. The idea of love and loyalty being similar to the journey Chesterton describes is thought-provoking. Thank you for sharing.

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Damned Alissa. Just wow. This had my mind and heart racing a lot. Thank you for sharing so intimately

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Thanks so much, Latham. I'm always grateful for your writing and your reading.

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Wow, your vulnerability in sharing this is truly powerful. Thank you for being so open.

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I found this so full of wisdom, thank you. Both the poetic indulgence of the devastating but refreshing fantasy. As well as the nuggets on human coupling along the way.

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That means a lot, Phil. Thank you for reading and for this lovely comment.

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Such beautiful words and insights. This really resonated with me. Thank you for sharing.

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founding

Alissa, I WAS JUST thinking about you yesterday wondering if your summer has been busy and if you too were finding it hard to write, or to publish. And here you are this morning. This is so beautiful, so raw, so vulnerable, and so real in its description of our human condition. But the words you string together portray beauty in the tension that exists inside those of us who are “married with kids in mid life”.

I hope you’ve been so very well!

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Thank you for sharing this beautiful and relatable piece, Alissa. It really resonated with me. I hope you are doing well too.

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I am ever grateful for you as reader, James. Thank you. And yes, the words seem to be stuttering out slowly these days!

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Alissa! This is a surprising and refreshing essay. I’m always amazed by how you weave references together!

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