Holiday time is vacation time. We spend enormous amounts of energy finding the cheapest airline reservations, hotel rooms, and chatting about how excited we are about our vacations. This is all fun!

Then the dreaded "P" word invades our joy – packing. Packing is not fun. Anyone who thinks it is MAAAAAY be just a little obsessive compulsive.....just saying! We spend hours thinking about it, talking about it, and then finally getting down to doing it! We really need a vacation by the time we zip up that damn bag.

Now that I am postmenopausal, my packing is quite different. The space the period paraphernalia used to occupy is now filled with my lotions/potions that will enable me to keep my skin young forever- plus lots of space for bras. I remember when I used to go bra-less. In those days, I might throw in one bra for a sheer dress, but I could crinkle it up in the palm of my hand. It didn't need its own department in the suitcase! Whether the bra is strapless, t-strapped, or a plain old two strapper – all perimenopause, menopause and postmenopausal bras require wires and lots of space. Sounds like a drag, I know, but it's a worse drag if you don't wear one (nice joke, right?).

When finally done packing, I proudly zip up my bag, but am careful to keep my eyes fixed upon it for a moment. My suitcase looks like the way I feel after I have had that second piece of apple pie (plus a pumpkin one) on Thanksgiving. I whisper to my suitcase, "Please don't explode. Once we get there I will unzip you and you will feel better again!"

Happy Menopausal Thanksgiving!

My Motto: Suffering in silence is OUT! Reaching out is IN!

Click here to download my free eBook, MENOPAUSE MONDAYS The Girlfriend's Guide To Surviving and Thriving During Perimenopause and Menopause.

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