Of Men and Women

It is during days like these, when I'm bloated and in pain most of the time, that I really don't get where Kamiseta's it's fun being a girl slogan came from.

They say that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. In this case, it's not just grass on the other side of the fence. There's a picturesque lake, with mountains as the backdrop, and wildflowers growing on the foot of the mountain. It's HEAVEN on the other side of the fence. Makes me want to cross over sometimes.

Let's see.....

When men get older, they look distinguished.
When women get older, they look "matrona-ish."

Men who are still single in their mid-30s are called "eligible bachelors."
Women who are still single in their mid-30s... are pitied.

*****
I accidentally bumped into a guy who courted me eons ago. He knew my parents, and greeted them with the usual hellos. But when he got to me..

Boy: San howe mo? (We haven't talked or seen each other for 3 years and that's the first thing he asks me?!?!)
Me: Hindi ko kasama.
Boy: O, kelan kayo kasal?
Me: Nye... tagal pa no.
Boy: Hoy mawawala ka na sa kalendaryo no!
Me: Paki mo ba. Ikaw nga malapit na mawala sa lotto e.

Harharhar. Of course I didn't say that. But I wish I had. And it didn't help much that he had his arms around his girlfriend that time.
*****

Okay.. back to topic.

Men who sleep around are called "studs."
Women who sleep around are called "sluts."

Older men who date younger women are idolized.
Older women who date younger men are frowned upon by society.

Men who crack green jokes and have sex on their minds all the time -- men.
Women who crack green jokes and have sex on their minds all the time -- tramps.

When boys enter puberty, physical changes happen -- voice becomes deeper, shoulders become broader, yadda yadda yadda. The change is completed in six to seven years. And that's it.

When we women enter puberty, we don't just get the external physical changes, we also get the PERIOD. For most of us women, the PERIOD is a period of hell in our lives. There are the menstrual syndromes -- pre, during and post. Premenstrual syndromes come a week before the PERIOD -- bloating, hot flashes, irritability, are just a few signs of PMS. During the PERIOD, there are the unbearably painful cramps, which makes me want to just lie in bed and sleep till the PERIOD is over. And we also have to check our butts every now and then to make sure we don't leave any stains around. I don't know what a post menstrual syndrome is, but it exists, because it's in the internet.

And the PERIOD is expected to last for 30++ years in a woman's life.

And then there's pregnancy and menopause. Which thankfully I haven't experienced yet. But let me get back to you on that in a couple of years.