And it's not going too badly, compared with some of my friends. I use hormone creams that control the hot flashes. Stayfree makes enough variety of protection that I'm rarely (but not never) inconvenienced.

No, it's the mood swings I hate.

I can be sitting quietly, reading in the back yard. I'll look up and see a particularly beautiful sunset and I'm crying.

A stranger who glimpsed a recent gathering of friends and family would have thought he stumbled into a funeral if he'd seen me sobbing.

Mr. Stud calls the hormone creams my "Happy Cream." Because they do help me not be mean. Most of the time. But at controlling sentimental outbursts... not so much.