Okay Ladies

For the fun of it, Let's imagine being together sipping  on a glass of wine, champagne, margarita,  lemonade, a cup of tea or ice water with a twist of lime or whatever you find refreshing

So Let's Play       

        ….Raise your hand if you are going to miss getting your "period"!

Or if you are going to mourn the passing away of "menstrual cramps"!

Or if you spring/sprang out of bed with joy and full of energy the day your "friend" arrives(d)!

(This last category is pretty much reserved for those of us who didn't use protection and mouth a silent  "Thank You God" and really welcome(d) her arrival as a "friend".  And don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about).

Now stomp your feet so I can hear them if at least once that "time of the month" didn't ruin a celebration or an outfit!

Or if you didn't find your "flow" to be one of the most uncomfortable sensations pre-tampon, i.e. sanitary napkins and frightening  post tampons as that little piece of apparatus just didn’t seem sufficient especially if it wasn’t positioned correctly!

Or if you never had to reschedule a GYN appointment even though they said it was okay to come in, but you just couldn't do it!

C'mon and click your heels and snap your fingers if you have not ever uttered the words, "Damn" "Shit" or something a bit more colorful when you went into the bathroom and found "her" waiting for you!

Or if you were not ever embarrassed standing in line waiting  to purchase your feminine products and avoiding the eyes of everyone, including the cashier!

Or if you are/were sorry to say goodbye to your "monthly visitor"!

Let me hear you give a rousing ovation

if you never had to take a day off of work to stay in the bed because those cramps were kicking your ass! 

Or if you never counted the days to an event against the days until your next "period"

Or if you never ran out of what you needed and didn't realize it until you were sitting on the toilet.

And finally,  Go ahead and dance

if you will weep for the days leading up to your period that transformed you into a “from hell it came” creature that even you dared not mess with.

Or if you dream of reliving the days when you were so bloated that it hurt to close your pants but you were too afraid to put on a skirt just in case there was a “slip”.

Or if you wish that your "menstrual cycle" would never end!

Just as I suspected.

Not many hands waving except for the ones in "that welcome "friend" relief category", (no judgement, just sayin) and it seems these chairs have glued our assets to the seats.  No shoes clicking, tapping or hitting the floor when I know good and well you got them heels on, Cuz I saw you come struttin' in here wearing 'em.And pretty much the only movement going on is swiveling heads and pointing fingers, all up in everybody else’s business except your own (hahaha).

So here we sit in this conclave, listening to sprinkled giggles, sighs of relief, exhales of nostalgia, and bursts of intermittent laughter - 

Inaudible and imperceptible sounds translated into a language that only grown ass women share and understand.

We witness involuntary and almost invisible head shaking as if folks are warding off an evil spell while cautiously and curiously and knowingly taking in faces full of unspoken memories hoping they can’t read ours.

Collectively and individually we offer vocal and visual expressions such as "good-bye", "good riddance", "farewell", "peace", "hasta la vista", "bon voyage", "adios" "glad to see you go" "deuces" and "ciao"  to our Monthly Visitor and Friend, who we may have considered an inconvenient nuisance, but who has walked with us as a decades-long companion and keeper-of secrets and who IS and HAS BEEN "Our Fertility", "Our Season of Giving Life" "Our Gift" "Our Opportunity"

And so goes the life of a woman

Exquisitely Created

Full of Contradiction

Consistently Complicated

Often Sweet and tender

Always Intricate

Inherently Courageous

Natural Nurturer

Multifaceted Treasure

Source of Joy

Love’s Design

An Oxymoron

Possessing Profound Purpose

&

Humanity's Principal Teacher.

So as we affix a Period (.) to this Period (era), 

With Praise and Appreciation and a Hint of Sadness

We Pass The Torch