Annice
Annice
Yes – I’m over fifty, and today I feel like it, thanks to the sciatic-like pain creeping down my right butt and thigh. The pain comes unexpectedly, like a knock at the door, and I get it a few times a year. Tomorrow it might be gone, and I might be able to hold Adho Mukha Svanasana for three minutes–that magical number needed to not only build strength but remove fatigue and rejuvenate the body.
Never mind that I used to be able to do Downward Facing Dog for 5 minutes – and not so very long ago – with less effort. That’s what it’s like to be over fifty – different every day. Isn’t it nice that life is full of physical surprises? But it’s okay – I don’t have little tots to run after or car pools schlepping kids to ballet or karate – only two big dogs – one with special needs (more about that another day) – and a husband older than I am who’s becoming more and more conservative with every new arthritic ache from his younger jock days.
Most mornings I’m up between 5:30 and 6:00. I’m working on a novel and savor that time before I have to get ready to go to work. Some mornings I read, and every single morning I drink two cups of coffee in a beautiful hand-crafted ceramic mug. Unless it’s raining, I also enjoy our hot tub with the conservative husband who insists it’s very therapeutic and gives him immediate relief in his joints–which is important because it justifies the monthly auto draft from our bank account. Never mind that, for me, it provokes hot flashes. Then it’s off to work, where I help small-business owners deal with problems like how to get a bank loan, how to increase sales, how to sell to the government and other entrepreneurial headaches I’m glad are not mine. At 6 or 6:30 p.m., I come back home, let the dogs out, and watch the news before thinking about what to cook for dinner. Sometimes I have a glass of red wine, and then I regret it because that, too, can provoke not one but a whole series of hot flashes. So I ask you, should I be switching to cold beer? Sometimes, in the evening, I get on the treadmill that the husband bought for me (paid cash) so I would stop complaining about how much weight I’ve gained from menopause.
I'm so challenged
The first two weeks the machine was in our house, I worked out religiously, but then I got bored, so the husband bought me an Ipod, so I could listen to music and not be bored any more. Never mind that he first had to teach me how to use it and we fought for days until MY music was loaded. So what if I’m a little technologically challenged? Truth is, when I listen to Tina Turner and work up a sweat, that, too, provokes hot flashes, but thanks to a tiny auto fan button on the front panel next to the pulse button (I stopped pressing because I can’t figure out what the numbers mean) I just drink my cold water and allow the small auto breeze to refresh my face. Ah – life is good after fifty.
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Tags: Adho Mukha Svanasana, Downward Facing Dog, IPOD, women over 50, yoga
Hahaha! My life is paralleling yours. I just turned 58; taught yoga for 10 years until pain started; now I do Gentle yoga and Tai Chi, much better for my body. But the hot tub helps tremendously! My loves: art, travel, photography, being a surrogate grandma (my kids aren’t married…yet) and the biggee…NATURE. Love your blog…
Can you believe Oprah has a half-sister!
So,I’m at the Dunkin Donuts drive thru getting a dozen for my staff meeting. I drive up and think to myself, “I wonder if they sell a dozen bagels”, what came out of my mouth was,” Do you sell a dozen donuts?” AFter about a 10 second pause, the voice thru the intercom came through and said,”excuse me?” Then I realized that I asked the donut shop if they see a dozen donuts!! Boggles the mind doesn’t it???
Nedra, we can’t wait to meet you in person! Thanks for all your wonderful comments. Jane
Hi all, I am Annice and Minda’s other sister, the oldest and the one that cheats at board games(that’s what they say anyway). I love this blog. I have to say I was not sure of this but it is enjoyable and quite refreshing with a lot of humor and everyday “stuff” we all have. It is like when the bases are loaded and the batter slams in a grand slam, honestly I’m kidding but you get my drift.I’m thru with the flashes but sometimes you just have to put your hair up, forget the makeup and have a gigantic screaming match with someone! Annice, you and your friends did a terrific job with this, you all should be proud! thanks Nedra
Annice… this is wonderful! I am so glad you let me know about this blog! I too suffered from hot flashes! Drink that water! Lots of it. You can also do red clover tea(you find them everywhere, pick the nice purple tops and brew), Vitex, Black Cohosh and many more help but the water is a biggy! They still come and go but I have had them since I was 26!!!! I thought since they started early they would end early, but NO!!!! Red wine is good for you anyway! Aretha is the best and causes hot flashes in men and women! But what a way to go. What an inspiration you are! Yoga, treadmill, job that helps others! Who wouldn’t have hot flashes!! For the over 50 crowd, you guys are incredible. Now that I am over 50 I realise how young we actually still are. It is in the attitude! I know lots of 20year olds that have breasts down to their knees, and ONLY because they wore no bra! A womans body goes thru many changes, for many reasons and I think we all should stand up for those bodies, especially since they can’t do it for themselves anymore!! Thanks to all on this site for being real!
Annice… very impressed with your article. I found I related to many items and was happy to read the rest. I too… am challenged by my computer, my Ipod, and hot flashes. I did get the chance to ask my mom about her hot flashes and she said they didn’t bother her and menopause was no big deal. While I do love and miss my mom, I think she may have forgotten her mood swings that I associate with her menopause years. Perhaps I asked her to late in life and she only chose to remember the good times.(not a bad way to go) I look forward to upcoming articles and seeing what I can learn and share here.
hey sis,
Yes you should take up yoga and it’s never too late. If my friend Adele can start at 70 – why can’t you start at 50? You can and I highly recommend it before it IS too late. Find an Iyengar instructor or just take it at the Y. thanks for checking in and Please send to all your friends – I;m not too proud to ask.
Ok, so being Annice’s sister (younger by the way but stil over 50) i suppose it is my duty to blog away as well….Anyhoo, very nice site. I am very impressed. By the way, I remember Mom and menopause. Not a pretty sight as you can probably imagine. Just want to admit that I have not worked out since November 08. Yesterday I went to an antique show for the day, walking around and really felt stiff. Not good. My joints are screaming at me. Maybe i should take up yoga…
First of all – to Jill, I’m intrigued by your breakfast choice. Now, you’ve got me wondering what other women over 50 eat for breakfast – sounds like a survey in the making.
Pam, I, too wish I could have asked my mother about hot flashes. She passed away at 56 – my age now exactly. Entirely too young.
Annice,
I’m so glad that Jane Hatley got me connected to this site! Great to read your bit. I am well over 50. 8 years over it, to be exact. Hot flashes were intense, but came and went for me pretty quickly. They’re sort of a distant memory now, like periods. I’m not sure anything I did made them go away, but can tell you that I got serious about wine (and by that I mean drinking it, not knowing about it), walking, gardening, and water aerobics right when I hit menopause. I wish I had asked my mother about her hot flashes, as I think so much of it can be heredity.
Annice,
What fun! I’ve never even viewed a real blog! Obviously i am way over 50!! However, some hindsight could be invaluable: The hot flashes just never entirely go away. Wine enhances it, but then again, it’s usually worth it.
Only one peculiarity of note as I age; i’ve gotten very weird about breakfast choices, and oddly enough so has my sister. Now my breakfast consists of coffee, half a bagel with brie, and approximately six cashews!!! What do you suppose this means??? Jill
As I sit at my desk at 9:10 pm, my time, glass of white wine in hand, I smile as your much anticipated blog appears on my screen. Three minutes you say? as I jiggle on my new Chi Maxx Machine for 10, but it takes 0 effort, and cost a mere CHF 15.00 at the local second hand store.
The look and feel of this site is fantastic, congrats!, I have just started reading through and you are first. Keep writing, keep riding that bike. I see little old Swiss ladies peddling away en route to some dress up event, gray perfectly coiffed hair reluctantly giving in to the wind, strappy sandals over support hose. I hope to be so free at 80.
Hey girl,
Notice I didn’t say Hot Flash Fanny? I didn’t know that the magic number was three minutes. All these days of my life I could have rejuvenated in just three minutes. Who knew? I did not. That’s the thing about aging…. we’ve gathered so much wisdom and experience that is worth something. I wrote a poem for my Great Grandmother Tiny when she was in her 80s and I was 17. How she has so much wisdom and everyone is rushing around in their own lives so fast they can’t be bothered to sit down and listen.
A travesty…
Keep on talking and I’ll keep checking in! Bravo to you and your beautiful friends.
Lisa
wow annice. i really enjoyed reading your column and congratulate you and the girls on putting out this site.
i wish you the best…and will look forward to reading your next article.