I’ve heard menopause described as puberty in reverse.  Puberty was a while ago but I don’t remember the feeling of the wheels coming off that menopause has brought upon me.  My emotional wheels went flying off one day in my early forties.

Menopause pulled the rug out from my emotional stability.  Totally acceptable to cry in the movies, expected to cry at your daughter’s graduation.  Less appropriate – crying in the Starbuck’s line.  Infuriating – crying during some stupid little argument with your husband.  “I’m not crying, my eyeballs are sweating!”  I’m a strong woman who can’t seem to control the tears.

A wise friend once informed me that you cannot cry while drinking water.  I don’t know if it works because I’m simple minded and susceptible, but it works.  The problem can be stopping mid sentence to gulp down a glass of water while your eyes begin to sweat but I am a believer.

Judging from the elders in my family, once I get past menopause, the tears will dry up.  You couldn’t get an auntie in my family to shed a tear for all the lost jobs and injustices in the world – no gulping water needed.