If you haven't been watching CBC's hilarious Baroness von Sketch Show this whole time, you are missing out.
I knew it was a show for me when I saw the sketch in the first season about how after you turn 40, it's time to stop giving a shit in the locker room at the gym.
I myself remember when that glorious shift took place; I went from being so bashful and always hoping there would be a cubicle free for modest changing to just existing fatly, out in the open. I would see the looks of horror from taut 20 somethings and think "You don't want to see it, don't look directly at it, I DON'T CONTROL YOUR EYES DENISE."
As a bonus for Katr and I, they film Baroness von Sketch in Toronto, so often we see folks we recognize, on screen and in the credits, and feel super cool for knowing them. Plus, Aurora Browne was a couple of years ahead of me in theatre school, and in the stalkerish words of Viscount Raoul de Chagny from Phantom of the Opera, "she may not remember me but I...re...mem...ber...her."
Anyway, a couple of weeks ago, they posted this sketch online and it was LIKE THEY KNEW MY LIFE:
I feel like actual MENOPAUSE is something I had heard a lot about and was somewhat mentally prepared for. In fact, I remember watching an episode of The Closer where Kyra Sedgwick's character is sweating uncontrollably and she doesn't know what it is and I'm like "IT IS MENOPAUSE, YOU DIPSHIT, DUH DOI." But it's only been over the last year or so that I'd heard the term "perimenopause", much less thought about how it might be affecting my life as a woman of a certain age.
The symptoms of perimenopause seem nebulous to everyone, but I've pinpointed three key areas where I've been most affected by this preview of THE CHANGE OF LIFE.
1. Mutinous Uterus.
I never had children and I feel like these days, my uterus is punishing me for my life choices. She's like "EVERY month, I get this place ready and throw a party for the sperm and you NEVER INVITE ANY." Biologically, my uterus has to keep throwing the party but, while the party themes in the past might have been "Snuggly Puppies" or "Baby Ducklings", these days, the party themes are more like "Jackhammer of Pain" or "Machete Ballet".
I've had the cramps on and off in my life, but nothing like the last couple of years. Day One, I might not be able to work. One time, I almost passed out and threw up simultaneously while we had company. Because of my sensitive stomach, I can't take anything stronger than Tylenol, which is basically bullshit. All I can really do is offer it up to Christ while keeping a hot Magic Bag down my sweatpants, which slithers out the leg of the pants whenever I stand up.
2. What?
I remember seeing a Sandra Shamas show where she talked about losing her nouns in her forties and struggling to get someone to pass her the salt, which she eventually refers to as "the white shakey stuff". See, I remember THAT important detail from a show I saw in my twenties but not the conversation Katr and I just had about the errands we have to run today:
Me: So we're going to the bank, the recycle depot and the Safeway.
Katr: Yes. But we'll do the recycle depot first.
Me: Right.
Two minutes later:
Me: So we're going to the airport, the Home Depot and the textile museum.
Katr: What?
3. Fuck Everything/I'm so SAAAAAAD/Don't TOUCH ME/Where are you GOING????
That pretty much sums it up.
One of the fun things about being a cis-gender lesbian married to another cis-gender lesbian is that your partner REALLY understands what you're going through but one of the less fun things is that YOU'RE BOTH GOING THROUGH IT, which means that at certain times of the month, it's a good thing pot brownies exist. Fortunately, because we're lesbians, we're super good at processing, so.
Anyway. Ladies. If you have any keen tips to share about how to get through this magical woman time, I am ALL EARS. Until the 10th, when I won't be able to hear you over the sound of me microwaving my Magic Bag.
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