good luck at the dentist chris. what pains me the most is the lighter pocketbook. i sometimes think, in my more lucid moments, that maybe, in losing our youth and beauty (relative of course) we might be relieving ourselves of a burden or expectation to look really good. although i hope not to become sloth-like, it is no longer my top priority. now if can just figure out what my top priority is!

I'm still looking for my mid-life passion, as well. You certainly aren't alone there. When I was appreciated for just my looks, I'd think wait until I'm older then you won't notice me anymore. Aging isn't easy!!!

Of course I'd never tell my psychiatrist that a monkey could do his job. Then he'd think I was REALLY crazy.

i'm no catherine zeta jones but at one time was somewhat appreciated for my looks. when i complained, my mother said "one day you will realize that you should have been more gracious and appreciative". in retrospect, i suppose she was right, so now i will have a progressive opportunity to see if i have anything else to offer. poetic justice. would like to do many things, but have been so damned confused for some time now that i seem frozen in time. i have certainly never been outgoing or gregarious and was taught that no one ever wanted to hear "i'm tired" or "i have a headache", etc. i have revised (obviously) my thinking on this and see that being able to discuss one's physical and/or mental status is truly healing. thanks everyone for bearing with me.

i was also taught that "brevity is the soul of wit" and will try to rein it in.

joools, I just wrote you a U2U, but somehow lost it. Man, I'm on my son's laptop, since he dismantled my computer. I'm also rather dimwitted when it comes to computers. Your mom sounds like she went to the same school as mine. Denial is her middle name. It's worked for her, thus far. Rather than talk to me about my problems she sends a greeting card. I know she loves me, but................ Well, hopefully I'll figure out the U2U when I've lost the sent message.

You don't have to rein it in!!

i must be getting better - i noticed that my first post, sometime last year, was something about "giving up" which is much worse than "giving in", right? elder surgette joools

Heck yeah!!!!

once again, i am launching into my self-centered, whining need for assurance, but you guys' amazing talent in reaching even an old fool like me is to hard to resist. question and/or complaint de jour is, after having no periods for over a year, am i menopausal, post-menopausal, etc.? i guess it doesn't matter, but is it typical to still have memory loss, foggy brain, alternating anxiety/depression? i feel as though i am becoming a different person, which i am fighting tooth and nail. hubby thinks it is probably a good thing, perhaps finally maturing. anyone else had the feeling they are being transformed and does it necessarily have to be a bad thing? thanks

Chris: i inadvertently did not push the right button to respond to your U2U message and since my brain has taken a holiday today, can't remember how to send a new one! what kind of gardening do or did you do? too much involvement this A.M. with trying to identify "the confederate dead"! someone, please, tell a joke. does anyone ever get an "empower surge"? i could use one.

Joools, Can't think of any jokes, but I can tell you that you'll never be a "friendless old crone" here. You're one of us, dear Bud, even if some of us had ancestors on the Nawthern side. My son-in-law is from West Virginia, and he told me that some of his relatives referred to the Civil War as "the War of Northern Aggression." Love it! And "brevity is the soul of wit" - I dunno. Is it ALWAYS? Sounds like just more repression, like "young ladies should cross their legs at the ankles." What, and miss all that awesome lolling around on couches? Pull up a chair, dear Friend, and join in the chatter. You're a good writer, Joools - lay it on us! Jacquie

joools, You're post menopausal after a year without periods. It can awhile for things to settle, however. I can't pull up the previous messages on this thread and unfortunately I don't have a photographic memory.