Well thank you. I do love being a provocateur of thinking.

Believe it or not, I know EXACTLY what you mean about the knotted chain. Yes! That is what it's like. That's exactly what its like to unravel social conditioning. I also umderstand the knifes edge between pity and frustration toward some of your own.

In fact, I experienced some of that this weekend at Medium Day. Mhmm. Sure did. I was in a snit about it all weekend, such was my disappointment and frustration over the waste. I could have slept in and had more beagle snuggles. I could have had a nice breakfast with both the hellhound and the Urchling.

This is the part where we all feel bad for Urchling because she's the one who, most directly, has to deal with my snits but also eternal gratitude because she usually handles them through their resolve so freaking well. I should pay her more.

It was last night that she finally slapped me upside the head, metaphorically speaking, with a nugget of wisdom and a truth bomb and then, a challenge to change. To try something different.

Damn. That patriarchal conditioning runs deep. Just when you think you're clear of some of it, nope...you're all knotted up again.

It'll be better for Urchling. She got a lot less of it. That's why she's so settled within herself, sure of herself, wise, kind, and reflective.

Man. Patriarchy cheats us all of so much. You know it when you realize it's all a scam and you see the dufficulties it's caused you. But when you see someone who doesn't have it, how full with their own humanity they are comparatively....it breaks your heart of what was stolen from you.