This is so good. @authorofthings, You gave us a lifetime and a world in one piece of prose. I grew older with the character, I went through all the aches and heartaches. Oh, when it started out so innocent....You allowed us the priviledge to come along for the characters life journey and life lessons as well and you gave us a peak at the things we don't talk about outside of the house and I felt the mood the old and mustiness of the house as she sat thirsty for her gin and tonic and I felt the long, lost longing the opportunity missed, the life that jump the track and played the rest of its tunes out of key with life and what surfaced still is the ultimate of hope of what could have been.....what should have been.. Yet she was only left with a saying about pearls.....