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?

The range of normal is wide. My mother and sisters had issues that resulted in surgical menopause so I didn't know what to expect. 47 was perfectly okay by me when I finally realized it was indeed history.

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

There has been a lot of change and weirdness, but no real stop.

The super wonky bit didn't really start happening for me until December of last year.

I've only used the cream for one month, so no real data on benefit.

We'll see!

I was wondering if I had stopped early - i think everything is done and I am 51 . I'm glad to hear 51 isn't really early

Someone, I think it was one of my doctors, said that it wasn't unusual to stop early if you start early. I was 9, so it seemed only fair.

I stopped this year (46). Apparently the range is 45-55, so while I'm a bit early it's not worrisomely so. It's not like I had reproductive plans, other than to not do so.

I'm glad the wake went well, Connie. You are quite a woman.

Hear hear. Connie, I'm reading your posts and I'm in awe.

I'm guessing (Hoping!!) that your sister was not called up for duty. Is she free and clear? Hope so.

Thank God, IDF was stupid and exempted her from the reserve duty she originally was supposed to do. She's in the South now, as a student. The city she's in is getting hit by rockets/leftovers of rockets (thank you, Iron Dome) 3-5 times a day. Not good for her PTSD (though I'm the one who heard a motorcycle accelerating today and nearly had a panic attack. They sound so much like a beginning of a siren).

I have once removed nieces who are in combat units, but they're not in Gaza now. I have a handful of friends who are in reserve duty but none of them is there right now.

Oh Shir, I can only imagine the stress level. The news seems worse every time I listen.