IME the best funerals always come down to "hell of a gathering, if only it weren't such a shame about the reason for it". It sounds like you achieved that and then some.

Love to you. The loss of my uncle Frank lead me to connections to couple of unknown cousins and Frank's siblings and now we're all pretty much certain Frank would be annoyed with us for taking so damned long.

I applaud you, Connie. And I'm glad this turned into an opportunity to reconnect with good people, although of course the circumstance is terrible.

I find it weird to be admired for my marriage. And saddened. It took shitloads of patience, but it never felt like work.

One of the most poignant things when my Dad died was realizing how amazing his devotion to my stepmom was. And I know that, at least at times, that wasn't always easy. But it was just amazing how much they loved each other. They really did.

I don't know if if it felt like work them but it will always be an ideal for me. That, that is what a partnership should be.

Connie, glad the wake went well.

I find it weird to be admired for my marriage.

It isn't easy to share life with another. Really not easy.

It is good to hear that the wake went well. No one ever wants to go to one, but it is an opportunity to reconnect and share warm memories.

I'm sorry for your loss, Shir.

Probably the stress did push the hormones up to the point of triggering.

Oh yeah! I consider myself lucky that I paused reasonably early. I had kept the dates in a spreadsheet for the last couple years to see if I could make sense of the erratic schedule. Months later when I thought to myself that it had been some time, I checked the spreadsheet. The official date of my last period was 9/11/01, recorded before the news broke. No doubt the huge emotional response finished it off. 47 years old at the time.

Shir, condolences on your loss. She sounds like a remarkable woman.

Connie, funerals and wakes are always so hard; I'm glad it went by easily for you, and some good came of it for your family.

The official date of my last period was 9/11/01, recorded before the news broke. No doubt the huge emotional response finished it off. 47 years old at the time.

Wow, Laura, that must have been a bit of a shock, to realize that date. I long for menopause, myself. Dammit, uterus, we're 51. Enough already.

Connie, I'm so glad the wake was bearable. Such things can be the most mixed of experiences.

I'd have to count myself as an admirer of your marriage as well. Even in the hardest times, I marveled at the acceptance and unshakeable respect you shared with your man.

Outside of this community, I don't see that much in the world.

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Oh good lord, Laura. What an amazing 'anniversary.' Many, many things stopped on that day. It's almost too metaphorically deep to think about on this Sunday morning. Wow.

I'm 54 and seem to consistently amaze nurses and friends that I don't seem to be 'done' yet. I have no family history and, therefore, no clue.

Last month I began taking a progest cream to balance out some symptoms, but I can't say I'm suffering at all.

I'm 54

Blast. It's just never gonna end, is it?