Menopause Madness?

a reader shares a different take

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Today’s post is again brought to you from Tokyo, where approximately 14 seconds after the last Halloween decoration was carefully removed and stored away for next year, Christmas season blew in with all its (mostly) secular glory: Carols piped softly into stores; lights entwined around every curbside tree; and festive holiday merch adorning the landscape as far as the eye can see. But there’s a difference in how capitalism’s influence plays out here. This is a largely Shinto/Buddhist population, after all.

Last year my son and daughter-in-law sent me a video of my granddaughter, M, as they followed her from her bedroom early Christmas morning to the living room. In the corner stood a modest tree, smothered in ornaments and tiny, white blinking lights. “Oh, wow!” M squealed as she approached. Suddenly she stopped. “Presents, too?” she cried.

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You’ll find, after the paywall, a different kind of HNTFUYF, as there’s homework involved. Please settle into your seats and turn to page… or rather, click this link.

HNTFUYF is a payola-free zone. I get no cut from sales when I mention a product. I share this so you know my recommendations are offered without obligation. The beauty response in this post sits quivering with excitement behind a paywall, waiting for you to discover it. For full access to all posts and the extensive archives, please become a paid subscriber at the currently discounted rate of $40/year. Can’t afford a subscription? Write to me at valeriemonroe@substack.com and I’ll give you a comp (no questions asked). 🙏