by Esther P. Chase

Kids Being Kids

It was time to get serious about my life. I didn't even have time to purchase 14kt gold and sterling silver charms for my many charm bracelets. Shall I switch to education and go for my Master's Degree? Do I really have the stamina for four years of medical school and three years as a resident? Heaven forbid I consider specializing in a particular field. Marriage charms, home charms, and education charms for a charm bracelet would have to wait until the right man came along. Though my dream was to marry, own a home, and have children, I had yet to secure a long lasting, serious relationship. Switching to education meant another year of full-time schooling to get my teaching certificate, but at least I could work on my Master's degree at the same time.

My education plans must have been pre-ordained for I met the most wonderful man. I knew he was right for me when he asked about my charm jewelry and each one of my sterling silver and 14kt gold charms on my charm bracelet, listening patiently while I related the stories behind each one. His name was Steve. I even considered buying gold and sterling silver charms for a charm bracelet to hold the initials S-T-E-V-E. However, my sanity returned, and I realized a charm bracelet would be overkill, and might just scare him away.

I was so overwhelmed by my first view of Paris, I almost forgot to add it to my list of charms for my charm bracelet. There were many choices from the France charms selection of charms. I chose the 14K gold charm of the Eiffel tower. It was difficult to limit myself to one charm for France, but we had many sites to view; many countries to visit.

I was in the Master's program, he in the Doctorate program, so we did not have any classes together. We met at Starbucks, needing the caffeine to get us through our evening classes. It didn't take long before we were also meeting after classes. We found it helpful to review our respective class materials and comforting and humorous to denigrate some of the professors. Within a month we were dating, not just meeting at Starbucks. It was exciting, thrilling, and exhausting!

I was attending school full time and attending Master's classes in the evening. He was teaching at a nearby college while working on his doctorate. When I finally received my teaching certification and got a paying job, I started to look for my first apartment. I considered myself too worldly and sophisticated to still be living at home. Besides, my younger sisters, who were still in high school, were waiting to move into my room.

Chapter 7 - Things are Coming Together