Women’s only

The rain slowed down the city this morning. The traffic was dense and I was more than 15 minutes late.

Elevator took ages to come. Out of three elevators in a fairly new business building only one was functioning, but being late I thought there would be no lines. A few minutes had passed and a lady came bringing a tray of steaming hot cappuccinos from the company’s restaurant. She wanted to go up two floors. She entered the elevator after me, greeted me calling my name in diminutive and asked me how I was. I said: “Well, cramps..” and put on a sad, exhausted face. She looked at me in astonishment: “Why, how, what from?”, and I had no choice but to go on: “You know my monthly problems…”, “Ah”, she said with a pensive look, as if trying to recollect a distant memory …..

The elevator takes us two levels down instead of three levels up. There enters another woman, closer to my age – 5 years younger, not that she looks it, poor thing. There the two of them engage in a discussion about stair climbing and the effort of it. The older woman says: “I have already climbed them once this morning, and I am still sweating like a pig” (she only had to go to the second floor). The younger one says in a lively, chipper voice: “I know, I can’t do it either… oh, my heart…. “The older one shifts her glance to me and goes on: “You girls, you have no idea what is ahead of you”. (I wasn’t that interested to find out about the horrors of menopause… Can it be worse than my persistent cramps, dizzy spells, nausea and faintness that I experience for days every single month). The younger woman does not stop her rambling about elevators and the monstrous effort of climbing stairs. The older one still does not vacillate in her discourse, and at one point looking at me she utters: “You’ll see when it is gone”…to which the younger woman adds: “It has already gone”.. With a bewildered look on her face, the older one needs convincing: “Has it already?”, the younger confirms: “Oh yes”. The older lady exits the elevator, leaving me alone with the younger one that is still lamenting about her heart and her loss of stamina.

Looking at her, I am trying to explain: “Viv, she was talking about menopause, she thought you had lost your period, got it?” The girl looks at me in surprise still trying to catch a breath from the exhaustion of having to wait for the elevator… “Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh”.

The next stop is mine.

On my exit I give her a compassionate glance: “I have tachycardia too, you know”.

P.S. Sangen i en stor norsk stemme er for Dina. 😀

 Category: Writing      Tagged: , , ,

46 Comments on “Women’s only”

    • 🙂 Oh, thank you so much, Colline. You might have noticed that I rarely write, but I can see now it is very therapeutic … I think I might do it again 🙂 Happy to made you laugh 😀

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        • 🙂 I find my inspiration in real events like this one from this morning :D, or sometimes in my dreams like the pic I published for Amy. Do you ever dream the scenarios featured in your writing? They are very imaginative.

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  3. Really fun – it could never have occurred with 3 similar men – I’ve never heard of that 3 men have stood in an elevator interrupted each other with stories of – respectively erection problems, (lack of) sperm quality and premature ejaculation – then they had probably chosen to talk about the referee in the latest europa league match… ‘hahaha’ 🙂 😉

    Very well written, Paula… 🙂

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  9. It was hard for me to understand, but you painted a lovely momentuous picture for us. Thanks for the candid story. Great read, Paula.

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  10. I saw something at a racetrack that is sure to lure more women in and that is plenty of clean bathrooms. More for women than men and the facility overall is clean too. Build em and they will come.

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  12. I loved the picture in my mind of the three of you in the elevator and the conversations going on. Absolutely fun read this morning. Women!

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  14. 🙂 You’re a very gifted storyteller, Paula – take a bow! 🙂 I really enjoyed reading this after a long days work, ha, we’re down to reality now. Thanks a lot for the mention and the link! It’s highly appreciated. 🙂
    Kyss og klem til deg
    Hanne-Dina

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    • I hope you enjoyed the music. When I discovered that Norwegian singer I had to think about you dear Hanne. Have some rest, dear. Kyss og klem til deg 🙂

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      • The music is great, Paula, she is a fab singer and songmaker . Thanks a lot for putting the spot on her! 🙂
        Have to rush to work, will read your other stories at the weekend. Hurra, det er helg!
        Kyss og klem fra
        Hanne x 🙂

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  15. And all this before you even start your working day! 🙂 Love the music you’ve chosen, Paula. She has a fabulous voice. Hope you’re soon feeling better. xx

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  16. Pingback: From work to an early grave! | Lost in Translation

  17. A lighter moment, on my birthday, Paula! 🙂
    Having come out of the other side of both of these situations, I can afford a rueful smile. Just wish I could say “the best is yet to come”. Sorry you’re getting such a rough ride with this. 😦

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