Sapphire--Intro Part II Autobiography

I've heard it's unusual for someone my age to bear that name.  I'm not an old, fragile woman, but I was named after one.  I could have been named Jennifer or Stephanie, but my mother had no desire to honor my father's exes.

Besides, those would have been too original, too normal to accurately depict my life.  Now that I think of it, Barbara suits me; an abnormal name for an abnormal life, or at least that's how everyone else views it.

Life's a chore?  I'll buy that, but I believe it's more of a hassle.  Who would opt to be constantly dismayed?  I sure wouldn't, but life took that route anyway.