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The ramblings of a queer defense attorney living and practicing in a red state.
 
 
 
 

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Menopause: The Pregnant Pause

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I am blogging today about a topic that has been written about and talked about by baby-boomer women ad nauseum… menopause. My apologies to my male readers…and young women for that matter. Today’s blog is for my sisters out there that are between 40-55 years of age. I can’t believe I am in that group -- my inner voice refuses to age past 28 -- but my organs and exterior tell the truth. This piece is not about hormone treatments or other medical topics related to menopause. This blog is about the relationship a woman has between what she sees in the mirror and that inner voice. Just who the hell is this old bitch in my mirror? (Bear with me, there may be outbreaks of rage through-out and the occasional hot flash.)

Menopause is a term used to describe the permanent cessation of the primary functions of the human ovaries. Seems simple enough, doesn’t it? My ovaries have decided to take a break… for the rest of my natural life. There goes any hope of my popping out a Juju 2.0. I am egotistical enough that the finality of that makes me want to shed a tear or two…let’s take a caesura and think about that. (I like words and the chance to be any kind of pregnant at this point is comforting to me…even a pregnant pause.) Okay…so my well is dry, I am no longer needed in society as a possible baby making receptacle. I can deal with that… okay, I will never be anyone’s baby-mama. The only thing disturbing about that is the fact that idiots reproduce like rabbits in America… the gene pool could have used my 23 chromosomes… just sayin.

So I looked in the mirror this morning and wondered who the stranger was looking back at me? Why does the fact that I am no longer dropping eggs make me feel like I am looking at a computer generated older version of myself? I am not ready to get the senior citizen discount at the movies!! Hold on a minute… slow this mother down… I want off this runaway train! Is it me or does that crease on my forehead look deeper today… the one that Linda says makes me look mean or pissed. It is bigger, you could park a 1974 VW in its crevasse! I am convinced that women increase trips to their plastic surgeon right about the time they see a stranger in the mirror. Their inner voice is startled into thinking a nip and tuck will make their outer facade match the girl within. It doesn’t work girls… there has to be another solution! Is it me or did it just get hotter in here?

If you are reading this and you don’t quite know for sure that you are beginning the big pause, let me help you. If you find yourself doing one or more of the following… you may of unknowingly joined my club.

  • 1. You fight the urge to slap the girl at Starbucks that forgets your whipped cream.
  • 2. Some days you feel so much bloat, you check to see if “Goodyear” is painted on your back-side.
  • 3. Your face gets beet red NOT while watching a hot love scene on TV but by walking to the restroom during the commercial break.
  • 4. You break into a sweat sitting on your porch swing.
    5. You cry while watching a tennis match.
  • 6. Your bones and joints ache like a middle-linebacker on Monday morning.
  • 7. You start thinking the days in front of you are out-numbered by the days in your past.
  • 8. A good night’s sleep is sometimes 4 hours.
  • 9. Your Facebook status strikes fear in your friends.
  • 10. Bitch for you is a verb and a noun.

PeanutsI about lost my cork the other day when a waitress delivered a basket of bread to my table. I was dining with Linda and a couple of our friends… there were three rolls in the basket and four of us!! Linda could tell my blood pressure was going up and reminded me of the time my mother threw a peanut at a waiter to get his attention! We had taken my mother out to eat at a restaurant that had a bowl of peanuts on every table. The waiter assigned to us was flirting with a couple of girls by the bar and ignoring us! My mother lofted a peanut across the room

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jujulaw 5 pts

Thank you Virginia! I appreciate your kind words.

HomeRearedChef 8 pts

Oh, my goodness, but your article had me laughing so hard I was in tears. Thank you!

Please, do continue to write whatever it is you feel. I can't wait to see what you write next.

~Virginia

Bibberche 5 pts

My girls are in puberty, and I am pre-menopausal - a combination of nightmares:) But, I keep myself in check, not allowing the beast to come out. I am just a nice person and would like to keep that reputation:)
I just don't think it's fair to go through hot flashes, sciatica pains, and suddenly disappearing waistline, while still suffering through the monthly (or so) period.
My husband totes a watermelon under his shirt, losses his temper while driving several times a day, and complains constantly about aches and pains. But I get the dirty eye and a snarky comment when behaving in a similar way. Hmmmm. Something is not right!
Thanks for writing this article. I need to find me a support group ASAP:)

jujulaw 5 pts

Your comment reminds of the great quote from My Big Fat Greek Wedding:

Then I started menopause and the lump got bigger from the "hormonees."

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.

Sloane Rhodes 5 pts

Laughing at your descriptions of anger! I related to a lot of what you wrote. You are very funny!

I went into menopause relatively early I guess (early 40s), but it wasn't the anger the got me. It was the fatigue. I thought I was dying! It was almost a relief to be told it was "early menopause," if relief is what you call crying one minute and snapping like a twig the next! Not an easy time, especially when my friends are still mid to late 40s and ovulating up a storm!

As a result, I started a website www.hotflashdiaries.com ( http://www.hotflashdiaries.com ) where I re-imagine the term hot flash as something more interesting and powerful than just an hormonal heat surge!

skptvprods 5 pts

After months of debate, I've decided I can no longer handle the hot flashes, mood swings, and general yuck that goes with the 'change', so I've opted to start the HRT that I picked up from the pharmacy several weeks ago. Still sweating to the oldies, tho. Not sure how long this stuff takes to kick in, but I hate any friend who now tells me they have moved into menopause without symptoms.

skptvprods 5 pts

After months of debate, I've decided I can no longer handle the hot flashes, mood swings, and general yuck that goes with the 'change', so I've opted to start the HRT that I picked up from the pharmacy several weeks ago. Still sweating to the oldies, tho. Not sure how long this stuff takes to kick in, but I hate any friend who now tells me they have moved into menopause withhout symptoms.

MealMixer 5 pts

My doctor gave me some hormone pills to help. I made the Exorcist look like a friggin' fairy tale.

Marianne at Mealmixer ( http://www.mealmixer.com )

SoberJulie 5 pts

I'm 38 and hit almost every point on your list, if this insn't Menopause your Mother and I should hang out.

Brilliant piece, I'm sharing it around.

Womens Voices 5 pts

There are definitely hard times, we certainly try to show the bright side - and celebrate the small midlife achievements.

Women's Voices for Change ( http://www.womensvoicesforchange.org/ ) | @WomensVoices ( http://www.twitter.com/womensvoices ) | WVFC Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/Womens.Voices.For.Change )

jujulaw 5 pts

Yes, talking about one's aching sciatica and the weather are both signs of being over 50 ..in response to "how are you?" That and the length of the response which directly corresponds to the age of the speaker...result?
Never ask a 75 year old man that question unless you brought snacks.

brucem 6 pts

Loved #5 on your list.
Another thing I struggle with is when an unsuspecting younger person asks me "How ya doing today?"
And I tell them!
They can't run away fast enough!
Melanie