I haven't been on A2k in a while, and what a treat this thread is to read! J_B that letter is fantastic!
I, too, prefer the company of older women. I've learned to appreciate them. There is one older woman at my work whom I have become rather close to in recent months and the things she says and the wisdom she imparts to me are priceless. She speaks her mind freely and I so appreciate that.
My biggest regret in life is that I didn't really listen to the things my mother said to me. She's been gone for over 20 years now and I miss her terribly sometimes, but I've learned to listen to and appreciate the older, wiser, mother figures that have come into my life.
BBB- When I moved to the retirement town where I live, I was the "baby" of the crowd. I made a number of friends who were older than me. All of a sudden I find that some of them have reached another plateau of life, where I find that I don't have much in common with them any more.
I am torn between a loyalty to these women, and yet I find that they hold very little interest for me. I am still very much a type "A" personality, while they have slowed down quite a bit.
Right now I am actively looking to become involved in activities where I will come in contact with women who are my age or younger.
So you will be the 'older' friend to 'younger' women, Phoenix. That's great! I know you are a great friend to have :-)
I really wanted to post this here with the picture open, but I do not think I can do it since it contains nudity..
but, this is a story that I love and a wonderful way to think of the aging body.
all from a womans point of view.
http://img65.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jaqueline4bo.jpg
Jacqueline, 38
"Today I am wearing long and flowing purple without my false front and feeling stunning. What do I mean my false front? My prosthesis that mimics that diseased part of my body that was cut away years ago to save my life. My fake boob, my rubber tit, my concession to society's denial that women lose breasts every day. My bra goes along with the farce, holding my other breast high and firm like a sixteen-year old's that has never seen battle. Well, my breast is not high and firm, it hangs from my chest and rolls when I walk. It has nourished and nurtured dozens of children and it smiles at the memory of those lips that have rested there. Tiny rosebud lips and grown men's lips, all there for the same thing, nourishment and nurturing. There is a shooting-star shaped scar on my breast, a sickle, a half moon. There are crevices where the skin has stretched taut with passion and stretched full with milk. No, this is no sixteen-year old nubile breast, it is the breast of a warrior woman, proud and regal."
It's lovely to see this thread become viable again.
J_B, that is a wonderful letter and it is something I can now identify with--wearing my jewelry to the grocery store or to IHOP. I''m also buying bigger earrings and anything that is shiney and glittery. My life feels like it shines now and I no longer care whether my "outfit" matches.
What I love most is the women. We have such a strong bond at any age, but as we grow older that bond is one of our most important strenghts. I think we can feel it as an almost physical tie between us, an understanding and easy, relaxed way of talking and of listening.
A couple of you have posted about having older friends. Many of my friends are older, but I do try to cultivate friendships with younger women. A very dear friend of mine was an elegant woman of 95. All of her friends were younger by a considerable amount. She still kept up and was an intelligent and cheerful companion. I think she continued to wear high heels until the day she died.
Eryemil and Tico, welcome. Tico, you're especially lucky to have swimpy there for her accurate and succinct advice.
I hope you both come back to visit.
Ok, I have a Q for you all. Remember I was having hotflashes at 35? I am having them again. I did two things in my life at the same time last august which may have effected the flashing. I got a neti pot thinking I had a chronic, low-grade nasal infection and I went on the pill to try and quiet my hormones. The flashing passed. But, I have since stopped neti potting and have gone of the pill and the flashes are back. So, here's the question:
Have any of you experienced both a sinus infection and hotflashes? Does anyone even get hotflashes with a sinus infection? Am I crazy for asking?
Yes, I happen to think those two phenomena are separate, or if not separate exactly, not reactive to each other. Don't listen to me though, as I'm only opinionifering.
I don't think sinus infection and hormones are related. I'm not sure if that's what you're refering to. Let me rephrase, just in case. It's the "can you get hot flashes with a sinus infection?" part I'm most interested in.
Oh, wait, that is what you were refering to, yes? I shouldn't have asked so many questions so late at night....
Looked up a mere 2 pages and it seems evident that it's hormones. But it's all prickly across my face, not just hot..... seems worse when I have a cold. Ok, going to bed. Thanks Osso.....
Hey littlek, I think osso was saying "yes" to your question "Am I crazy for asking"? but in a joking way.
Do you have enough health insurance to go to a doctor? Going back on the pill, if peri menopause is the problem, should be ok if you don't smoke and are in good health otherwise. It really helped me, but I'm just too old to continue with the pill.
I love neti pots, but a sinus infection would have nothing to do with menstrual or menopausal symptoms. (You won't believe the mental image I got when you first mentioned neti pots in conjunction with hot flashes).
The only thing that comes to mind is an ongoing infection with a fever that comes and goes.
Keep using that neti pot [size=7]in the appropriate place, naturally[/size].
Thanks Soz--come back and join in.
Yes, lilK, I meant you were crazy to ask, but meant it to be kidding.
Aw, well, I prolly would have 'gptten it' if I hadn't been so tired.
I dropped to a no-med-coverage type health insurance because it was all I could afford. And, I can barely afford that. Last year's insurance was around $400/month, it went up to $520/month. I couldn't even really afford the 400/month, so I switched insurers and dropped to $320/month, without drug coverage. So, I guess I should see what the pill costs without reimbursement.
Thanks you two.....
K, I hadn't seen your last post. Please come back when you have tried the medication--if it is affordable.
So, ummm, I'm going against the grain here, but I get what I would call "hot flashes" whenever I have any type of infection...Sinus infection, urinary tract infection, plain ol' viral infection, you name it. I don't know if that helps at all, k, but I just thought I'd toss in my two cents.
This is a great thread, BTW! All of my closest friends are older women, right up to 88 years old. My not-blood-related moms and grandmothers mean so much to me!
Cyphercat, glad to see you here. Are you in the age range for peri menopause? Have you talked to your doctor about these symptoms? I hope you do try to find out if they are indications of some kind of infection.
If you have read back through the thread, you'll know that I still get hot very easily even though I went through menopause several years ago. I have asked my doctor and she says there isn't anything to do about it. Damn! Life isn't fair. Now that I'm an old broad I shouldn't have to go through this crap. Mutter, mutter, sigh.
Gee whiz, I hope I'm not hitting perimenopause! I'm only twentysix, and just barely that...
It really seems to be just a side effect of infections for me. I just get these waves of heat, especially on my face and arms, break out in a sweat, and then get chilled immediately afterward. Then the cycle starts again! It's one of the ways I know that I have a UTI.
