Upon returning to my blog after a three year absence, I am puzzled by it's name. Sweden? I've never been to Sweden?

How It all began

When I was in the second grade somehow I was nominated to play Santa Lucia in the school play. Actually, it was probably half due to the fact that I actually looked like a full grown woman by age 8 and half because my mother was the only parent that participated in the class activities. Sure enough, mom fashioned a Santa Lucia costume for me, complete with candles (Made out of paper) . I was horrified, first of all because I was the "extremely shy, fat, new to the school girl". But nothing was more embarrassing than being out on stage alone with a white robe (the school was predominately African American) and a construction paper candelabra on my head. As the school year went by I slowly began to shake my saintly image. The next year I moved on to another school and was thankful none of my new classmates knew my little secret. To them I was just the "shy, fat new girl". Regardless, my Santa Lucia experience lingered, I feared that some day I could come face to face with childhood humiliation.

Ten years later that's exactly what happened. I was 19, living "on my own" in my grandmothers garage. I was making my way thru my general education at city college ( the "U by the Zoo" as it was called). I had a job at a local donut and coffee shop. I loved it. My best friend worked with me, free coffee and donuts and TIPS! The only problem was the hours. I often showed up at 5am having gone to bed at 4am. But somehow I managed to make it, mascara smudges, pony tail and stretch pants (hey, it was the late 80's!, Oh, actually I think it was 1990, but cut me some slack!). One morning I get to the counter and find a guy about my age that looks somewhat familiar. We're chit chatting, I'm pointing out the difference between a Latte and Cappuccino (there is a distinct difference!). Suddenly, out of the blue the guy looks at me and says's "Hey, aren't you Santa Lucia?"