That Place You Love: Real People. Real Stories.
Round-Up on Law; Next-Up Loyalty. Welcome new Subscribers & Contributors!
I’d like to take a moment to welcome…
New Subscribers & Invite you to become New Contributors!
I realize it can be daunting to share a personal story with a virtual room full of strangers.
Trust me, my first post on January 2nd was terrifying. But a couple of weeks later, I found the routine of writing these short, thematic pieces essential.
When my mind gets muddled, I know I have to compose at least one thing to share with people.
It becomes a practice…
And then it feels like a vacation with my creative mind free to roam.
Give it a try!
Rich Prompts/Low Stakes, as one Contributor called it.
Round Up on Law & New Prompt - Loyalty - below!
If you’re reading this for the first time…
And want to know more about the ZINE’s mission, go to ABOUT or FORUM on the Substack platform or read the introductory post I WAS AN EASY LIAR.
7 Contributors weighed in on LAW:
I wrote about my only experience in jury duty and how the bias of bearded academics forced us realists into surrendering to an impasse.
(in order of appearance)
Carole D wrote about the Law of Three’s - affirmation, denial, reconciliation - in relation to eating, drinking, and being merry and/or truth, kindness & patience.
Carol M shared the extreme contrast of dis/trust in The Law depending on whether you grew up in the “lily white suburbs” or the streets of the District.
Amelia recalled experiences with heated contradictions of Southern prejudice in the 1950s - 60s, where the only rationale given was, “It’s the law.”
Intact Animal researched his maternal grandfather, one of J Edgar Hoover’s G-Men, wondering what he must have seen and done during 3 tumultuous decades.
Lisa St. J wrote about her mother’s advice to keep her mouth shut in the presence of officers, based on her experience in a WWII German displaced person’s camp.
Melissa S recalled a run-in with a gun-wielding biker paranoid on powder who mistook her for a Narc. Unshaken & immovable, she stood her ground.
Karen E wrote about the fresh eyes of in-laws in a family of generations, how they see what “insiders” have known and forgotten, and release them to float.
READ & HEART this week’s writers & SHARE your own story in the comments.
Next Up: LOYALTY
On Monday, I’ll write about LOYALTY through the lens of truth and see what I come up with as a prompt. I’ve been reading Atul Gawande’s book Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End.
He references The Philosophy of Loyalty (1908) by Josiah Royce who argued that in order to live a life worth living we need loyalty, or a dedication to something/one beyond ourselves.
“Loyalty IS social,” he writes.
Consider where Loyalty takes you and share on Monday!
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More to come on Monday….
Have a great weekend.
Sincerely, for real.
Michelle