Desperately Seeking...a Chocolate Hen

Offlate, I have been hankering after memories of a long-gone era. I occasionally re-read my journals from my Brussels days, including the entry when I lost my virginity to a slightly older lady, who later became my ex.

As chance would have it, I decided to look for my ex, and find out how she is, and whether she was back in the States from Belgium after a horrible period in 2004. Rather serendipitously, I came across a post, which I'll copy here, in the hope she might come across it some day.

Fancy that! She mentions me in the entry:

On a lighter note, I need direction with another situation. This one is delicate, it is a matter of the heart! I met this wonderful guy while on vacation here in Oct., Emmanuel is his name and loving me is his thang lol. Intelligent, good looking, in touch with his emotional side and a virgin to top it all off, or should I say WAS a virgin *wink wink*. He is the epitome of my soul mate. It has been a while since meeting someone of his caliber who I have been attracted to. Usually I am only out for sex and a no strings attached thingy

And here was me, then not even having discovered blogging to this extent, yet having had my name safely tucked away somewhere in the blogosphere by a girl who would later become my ex!

Like I said, it's all here, hoping that she might come across it one ofthese days. Somewhere. Michelle, or Chocolate Hen, I'm looking for you! I hope all is well with ya, and you're chilling back in the US--as you oughta! Do contact me! ekbensah [at] gmail DOT com:

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Tuesday, January 6th, 2004
6:27 am Brussels
I am sitting in a cyber cafe in Brussels, Belguim, feeling as if my world is crumbling around me. I just quietly celebrated my 28th birthday 4 days ago on the 2nd. Where do I start......

Originally from Kansas City, I have spent the last two years working in Baltimore, MD before coming here to Europe. I quit my job as an office manager to relocate here to help my sister who is going through a divorce with childcare.

My beautiful older sister is now a frustrated woman and it pains me that I cannot grant her complete serenity. Her Belgian husband whom she married about 4 yrs ago in the US relocated their family here to his hometown and it went downhill from there. My two beautiful nephews ages 2 and 3, I fear will have lifelong impressions of their parents' squabbles. All I can offer is love and comfort and can only pray that it is enough for them to have a healthy life. My ill mannered bro in law is using me as an excuse to escalate matters with my sister. Let's get this straight, I didn't come here to get in the middle of their marriage, but as an on-call nanny for my sister. He has taken advantage of my being here by leaving one or both kids in my care so he can go on his 'errands'. Today is a very good example. This morning, instead of asking me to keep an eye on the 2yr old so he could take the oldest to school, he just leaves while I am still in the bed sleeping. I awoke to the sound of my youngest nephew distrubing things in the kitchen. My bro in law was gone for at least an hour. When he returned, I asked him why he left without telling me and he starts in about how he was talking to my oldest nephew's teacher. I told him that was totally irrevelant to the fact that the youngest was left without any adult supervision. He response to that was 'Whatever'. In opinion, that shows total disregard to his own child's safety. So that's how I ended up here today. I could not justify being in such close proximity to someone with that kind of thought process. My heart goes out to my sister most importantly for having to deal with such stupidity. I do not even want to think about what this evening or tomorrow may bring in reference to dealing with him.

Another thing on my mind today, obtaining employment. In order to work here, you must have a work visa. I am trying to obtain one at this moment while still applying for positions I feel I am qualified for. Here's something interesting...unemployment here never ends like in the US, you can claim unemployment for the rest of your life if you chose to do so here. 85% of your former pay is what you are entitled to....with that being said, there are quite a few Belgians living off of unemployment, including my bro in law, so why do you think they make it so hard for non-Belgians to obtain work...do they keep the jobs open just in case one of the unemployed Belgians get bored and wants to work for a little while or something...go figure!

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You're very much missed!