Show I I Friends Helpful Dear Miss Brookfield Can you tell me if women past the age of 40 or 50 automatically automatically automatically auto auto- become self appoint ed authorities on everything and anything I recently returned returned returned re re- re- re turned to business working in inan inan inan an office with many women They are always telling me where and when to buy clothes where to go on vac vacation tion what to serve for dinner etc These women arent aren't making helpful suggestions but giving orders How do you stop them D. D DO 0 Los Angeles Calif Dear D. D DO 0 First we have a question for you how do they ever get any work done You seem to tobe tobe tobe be a buck private surrounded by generals OUR FIRST bit of advice is isto isto isto to talk less Dont Don't tell your workers co-workers about your shopping shopping shopping shop shop- ping or vacation plans and to avoid culinary chatter tell them you OU eat out every night There arc are some other alternatives alternatives alternatives alter alter- natives 1 start conversations along less personal lines such as a new film youve you've seen or orthe orthe orthe the latest news or 2 as a alast alast alast last resort find a job in an all male office Over 40 and Overweight Dear Miss Brookfield I am 48 and overweight I have tried strict dieting without without without with with- out success I seem to have retained an additional five pounds with the birth of each child Can my weight be due to the menopause I am also irritable and depressed M. M R. R Towson Md Dear M. M R. R Many women have a tendency tendency tendency ten ten- dency in their middle years to add a layer of fat around the hips and abdomen But the extra weight according to medical authorities is not due to the menopause Your depression depression depression de de- de- de and irritability may however be menopausal THERE ARE a number of symptoms associated with the menopause Among the most familiar are hot flashes night sweats headache insomnia fatigue nervous tension irritability irritability irritability and depression Many women may not be bothered by any of these symptoms but it helps to know what they are in case any anyone one of them should develop Some of these effects are due to endocrine imbalance caused by the declining of the ovaries according to the Public Affairs bookie booklet entitled Your Menopause If so in most cases these symptoms will vanish wh r the hormonal equilibrium f L- L restored with estrogen replacement replace replacement ment medication WE WOULD suggest you discuss dis dis' discuss cuss your symptoms with yoU doctor Born Loser Dear Miss Brookfield I seem to lose things con con- One day I lose 1060 my wallet the next day my house keys Today would you believe believe believe be be- lieve it I misplaced a pair of shoes Sometimes I think thick Im I'm losing my mind Does this happen to other women E. E H. H Bridgeport Conn Dear E. E H. H Yes and dont don't lose this newspaper before you finish reading the rest of this answer answer answer an an- Try to make a conscious conscious con con- effort to have a place for everything and everything in its place It may be slow going for Cor a while but keep trying P. P S. S HOW did you lose a pair of shoes Dear Miss Brookfield I have been widowed for over two years Now that my children arc married I would like to meet someone and re re- marry Old friends seem to beof be beof beof of no help EITHER THE women invite me over when their husbands are away or they dont don't ask me meto meto meto to social gatherings because they dont know any eligible men One friend has tried to help but every introduction she arranged arranged arranged ar ar- ar- ar ranged has been disastrous The last time she invited me over to meet a nice man manfrom manfrom manfrom from Bills Bill's office he turned out to be more than a foot shorter than me How does one meet men R R. R S. S Chicago Ill Dear R. R S. S That's a good question But probably one of the best and safest ways is through friends Just keep accepting your helpful helpful helpful help help- ful friends friend's invitations You may hit the jackpot one of these days AT THE same time you can can start a yourself it plan by joining church and community organizations and other groups that cater to mature singles Some women travel and are successful others return with misgivings One woman summed summed summed sum sum- med up the eligible man she met on a trip in these words He looked a lot better in Paris than he did back home Women have devised various stratagems to meet men according according according ac ac- ac- ac cording to Isabella Taves author author author au au- au- au thor of the book Women Alone She found that some women follow Collow the obituaries writing letters of condolence to bereaved widowers One lady investor married the chairman of the board with this tactic She also reports that a woman with a masters master's degree in English took a job as a waitress in a restaurant catering to successful busi busi- ness But this could be hard hardon on your feet |