33. Grouchy

"Menopause makes me grouchy," she said.

Half-tongue in cheek I countered, "What makes your husband grouchy?"

"He's a guy, it comes naturally."

Actually the hormonal shifts of menopause do not increase depression or the irritability that is often the harbinger of depression.
Health issues that arise in the 50's (the knees, the back), kids leaving (or not leaving) home, careers of husband and wife at a plateau, and the earthly departure of friends and relatives--these are the triggers of acute depression. Along with existential angst as one considers, "is this as good as it gets?"