TO BE YOUNG AND IN LOVE

SEVEN SECRETS BEFORE MIDNIGHT

Being a Schuyler was undoubtedly difficult. There was no question about it. And despite the fact that the media, money, and power may lead you to believe that the name was a one-way ticket to a life of opulence that couldn't be farther from the truth.

The name alone carried enough responsibility to break an adult. Let alone a kid but when you were born into a family such as this one you didn't have the luxury of experiencing a carefree childhood. When you were just a random child if you saw a puddle of mud you could jump in and get as messy as you wanted but if you were a Schuyler you got to look at a puddle of mud and imagine the fun you could be having. Keyword imagine. Meaning no actual playtime was physically happening. There was a list of rules that you had to follow whether you liked it or not. Rules such as you had to think before you spoke. Be aware of your boundaries. Stand up straight. Smile at all times. Have a firm handshake. Don't start unnecessary conflicts just to name a few. You learned from an early age that even though the financial, political, and career opportunities were endless the social ones were quite limited.

As a young child, Angelica didn't make friends easily because all of her friends were hand-selected. She learned French before she learned how to jump rope. She learned to depend on herself before others. And she learned the very hard lesson that not everyone had good intentions.

Angelica was a victim of the upper-class family dilemma. And just like any other beautiful, intelligent, well-dressed, affluent victim she handled herself with poise while pretending her problems didn't exist. That also happened to be what she was doing tonight.

Angelica's parents had appointed her as the hostess for her father's esteemed event, The Summer Gala. The gala was a high-profile party to celebrate the Schuyler Law Firms hard working employees but it was really just another chance for the elitists of New York to indirectly show just how much money they had. So while Margarita Schuyler showed off her latest pair of Louboutin heels and Elizabeth uncomfortably mingled, Angelica was left desperately searching for a way out of this party.

TO BE YOUNG AND IN LOVE.

"So that's when I realized that our summer home was just too small so John and I decided that it was about time to relocate from Seneca Falls to Albany and my god best decision we've ever made. I was surprised by how inexpensive the downpayment was. I mean for a 9,000 square foot house I was expecting a little more than what we paid but I guess there was really nothing else we could do about it."

"Wow, that's just so... interesting. "

That was another thing about being a hostess. Having to listen to all of your guests and act as if you actually cared what they have to say. Sometimes you got lucky and the attendees weren't that interested in talking to you either but other times you would come across guests who felt the need to tell you absolutely everything that was going on in their lives. One of those guests was Miss Elizabeth Cady Stanton. She and her husband were wealthy activists in the Albany area and while they were extremely polite and moral people Jesus could the woman talk. You could wave at her and she would take that as a sign to tell you about her friend's daughter, niece that had wedding last month but as much as she wanted to pull her hair out in frustration like most things Angelica knew better so instead she smiled, nodded and patiently waited for her guest to shut up.

"So John and I just couldn't decide if we wanted a spare bedroom or a spare bathroom because we had to pick one or the other for the renovations. Eventually, we chose the- ''Oh Catherine, hello."

Angelica turned to see her mother approaching the conversationalists, mimicking the same artificial smile Angelica was wearing.

"Elizabeth, good to see you again. How are you?"