The End of Chapter 26

Chapter 26 is nearing an almost definite end. Chapter 27 is about to begin. She began Chapter 26 in bewilderment. She was a little girl desperately clutching onto the hope that someone in this world cared enough to take care of her. Throughout Chapter 26 she clung to a man who didn't and wouldn't take care of her. Through the year he poked, stabbed and crushed the romantic dreams of the strawberry blond who believed that one day her prince would come. They'd date, fall in love and start a beautiful family. Only the lonely, dark introvert had no thoughts or dreams of making hers a reality. So, at the onset of the closing of Chapter 26 she has closed the door to happily ever after with the boyish, dark introvert. As said in Pride and Prejudice "that chapter is definitely closed". With those words she says "good, I deserved better".

Chapter 26 was an interesting one. It was the birthing process from girl to woman. It didn't happen over night but rather in small almost undetectable stages. She almost didn't see it happening. Suddenly one day her tastes became defined, her dreams became attainable and her faith became the work of her own autobiography as opposed to living another's biography.

She watched as family's prepared for Easter. Mom would prepare the meal, dad would cut the meat and children would arrive and "assist" the process. The strawberry blond hunted through cooking magazines, online recipe sites and sought the advice of her mother's friend as to how to prepare her first ham. She chopped, minced and simmered all day Saturday and had everyone come on Sunday. The ham was a success and her life was moving successfully in a new direction.