Red Moon Rising

The Scream

When Norwegian artist Edvard Munch produced 'The Scream' It was not his intention that it signify the subject on which I am posting. That said art is many things to many people and this famous pastel has long been one I have felt an affinity too and loved, not only for it's obvious attractions but because strangely perhaps it has always illustrated for me exactly how I feel on certain occasions.

The title of this post does not of course exclude you guys from reading or commenting on what I am about to say, it serves rather as a gentle warning for those of you with a squeamish nature where the physiological aspects of womanhood are concerned, that you may prefer to give this one a miss!

Let me say here, just in case there is any doubt, that I do not enjoy having my life dictated but something completely out of my control, that renders me clumsy in the extreme, causes me to drop anything I lay my hands on, trip over and bump into things that anyone with any reasonable degree of spatial awareness could avoid without effort. I do not enjoy spending days at a time driving like a fool, unable to rationalise and falling apart in a pathetic display of tears for no apparent cause. I do not enjoy my back aching, my legs feeling like they are fashioned from lead, the spots, more bad hair days than you could shake a stick at and a stomach that feels like it has 'gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson'

And so what has caused this rant?...........individuals who blithely say to me and others, 'Oh, you have PMS I suppose' or some similar dismissive comment and expect us to be amused.

Yes it has it's funny side but mostly PMS is patently not funny, this is a condition that many many women suffer for years on end and has a profound effect on their lives. It is the butt of many jokes and a condition that affects all those around the sufferer. I for one would not like to live with me at these times and consequently understand the male jokes and aggravations in dealing with a woman who most of the time is a normal human being and then suddenly becomes mildly insane.

What concerns me more is the apparent lack of understanding in some quarters. PMS it seems is not an excuse to take time off work, to under achieve on occasion, to cause erratic behavior or to prevent one attaining goals. Well no you are right it is not an excuse it is a reason and a valid one. Those who are lucky enough not to have to arrange their lives to some degree around this particular female peculiarity, and I include women not only men here, should perhaps take a moment to consider the impact such disruption might have on their life and the difficulties it would cause.

Unfortunately this is a state that if one has not experienced it is probably very difficult to imagine. It is pain and mental confusion that I can't equate with any other, it has foibles all of it's own and has been used as a successful defense in murder trials, not I add thankfully, that I suffer to that extreme.

Some may consider this not a subject to be posting on but I do not apologise to those people for doing so. This is the 21st century, I am proud to be a woman and menstruation is an inherent part of my femininity. Thankfully we are no longer hidden away and considered as 'unclean', save for one or two cultures an religions.

I don't want for the women among us who know only to well about what I am talking, sympathy or platitudes, just a little tolerance when we display these strange changes in behavior. I can accept and even laugh at the jokes if you laugh with me not at me. I don't want to use it as an excuse I just want a little consideration.

And so why 'The Scream'......despite it not being the artists intent,in fact the 'screamer' is a man, this image captures for me, far better than my words ever could, precisely how I have felt for a quarter of my adult life!