Getting my First Period - Chapter 3

This is another short bit from my book, Writing the Diaphragm Blues.  In this chapter, I recount what happened to me when I got my period for the first time.  Do you remember what happened when you got your period? Did you family support you and help you along?  My family throw a party.
----------

From Chapter 3: "Diaphragm Blues."

I’ll never forget when I got my period …. oh hell on earth! I say this with a combination of horror, delight, and just a little bit more horror thrown in for good measure. Why do I say horror? Simply because when you are a thirteen year-old girl, having your period for the first time, even if your prepared for it, is a horrible experience. To be honest, the first time I noticed hair under my arms, it was enough to send me to my bedroom for three months.

I really did not want to grow up, as I had no interest in becoming a woman. I enjoyed being a child, and I enjoyed being a tomboy even more, so these signs of womanhood were offensive and threatening. When I got my period for the first time, my Mother was overjoyed. She sent Lee-Dad to the market for menstrual pads, because she only used tampons and she didn’t think I would like to use a tampon on my first time. However, a family friend was present and she tried to teach me how to use a tampon in the bathroom. Oh my God. Let me just say that again ... Oh my God! Talk about an epic failure, not only was it a tampon, but it was one of those tampons without an applicator. Again … hell for a thirteen year old.

My Dad soon came home from the store with the pads, beaming, announcing to the world, it seemed, that I was now a woman. Did he tell the guy at 7-Eleven? I am rather sure he did. I see the scene very clearly in my mind’s eye:

Dad: Good day sir, I would like to buy these menstrual pads.

Store Clerk: Why certainly good man. I’m assuming they’re not for you?

Both: (laugh)

Dad: No indeed not, but I hear they make good odor-eaters for your shoes.

Both: (the two men laugh again).

Dad: No, they’re for my daughter - she is a woman today.

Store Clerk: Well congratulations. I guess you’re going to be locking her up from now on, right? (Both men chuckle.)

Dad: Yep! The next stop is the local armoury. I’m buying her the best chastity belt money can buy!

Store Clerk: Good luck with that!

---------
If you enjoy reading this blog, please follow it officially (link to the right).  You can also be updated on entries via the email subscription option.  I would love to hear from you!
R

A New Book and Where do Babies Come From - ala YouTube

I am happy to report that I am hard at work on my next book, a literary adaptation of my play "Writing the Diaphragm Blues." As many of you know from seeing the web version, which has now been taken down as I write the book, this play was mostly based on my life, as well as discussions and experiences I had growing up and talking with my family on topics of sexuality.  Unlike many families that I happen to know, my family was very open regarding the topics of sex and sexuality, and this led to some fairly interesting conversations.  So my new book will also be a memoir of sorts, but one that looks very specifically at my introduction to sexuality, birth, contraception, menopause, and all this stuff that happens in between.

The book itself, I hope, will be a nice combination between a serious consideration of these topics, a research consideration of these topics (specifically looking at how sexuality is presented within social media), but also a humorous presentation of the topics.  the chapters will vary from traditional memoir nonfiction, to creative nonfiction offering a recount of experiences. I'm also excited about the fact that a dear friend of mine, indeed someone I consider to be part of my family circle, has agreed to do some classic comic illustrations of the scenes. I can't wait to see what he comes up with!

However, I don't start the book off humorously, but with the fact that rape has been an issue in my family - across the generations. This obviously is not a happy or humorous topic, but one I think is still important to discuss in society. I honestly cannot tell you how many women I know who have been raped, and who are terribly uncomfortable discussing the fact that this has happened to them. Although I believe that every woman should decide for herself regarding how much they wish to discuss regarding such topics, I personally feel it is very important to talk about these things in the public forum, because silence tends to equal an agreement to how things are.  I do not agree with how things are in this country, or abroad, in relation to how female sexuality is generally viewed, and rape is seen from not only as a crime, but as a turn on, and a fair weapon to use in warfare.

Although I start my new book out with this topic of rape, I also present in Chapter 1 a look at a more humorous topic: where babies come from.  If you take a moment in Google this idea, where do babies come from, you'll find some interesting results. I was really quite surprised about the results I did find, and I'm giggling a little bit thinking about it, and so I thought it might be fun to share some of those rather interesting videos here today -  all I can say is that I really hope people searching for real information on this topics, do not come across these videos first!

 also, if you have a humorous story about misinformation you got growing up regarding where babies come from, please feel free to share it here.  I'd love to hear what other people were told. I'm also going to post this question on Google+!

The top videos on YouTube regarding where babies come from.

And another gem!