I really hate stereotypes but sometimes they make their way stealthily into our subconscious.

Apparently I am guilty of harboring some male/female stereotypes – although I am loathe to admit this.

Everyone knows that on a cool evening when a woman in a light dress is chilly her gallant escort always offers his jacket – right?  That’s the way it always happens in the movies. The guy gladly sheds his jacket to keep his lady comfortable. I’ve seen it happen many times in real life too. So I guess I just always figured that guys are generally more hot blooded than their women.

In my thirty-something years of marriage I myself have been the recipient of such chivalry now and then.

Then came menopause. All hot all the time.

In menopause it becomes more about how much I can yank off of my sweat dripping torso without becoming a public nuisance. So I’m not borrowing a lot of jackets.

The other day my husband was driving us downtown. It was a scorcher of a summer day and the ac fans were cranking away in a valiant attempt at keeping us from melting in our seats. I suddenly realized things had become noticeably warmer. Glancing over at the ac controls it was clear that someone had been messing with the temperature. Why in god’s name would anyone do that? It’s in the high 90’s!

I shot my husband a lethal glare and he commented sheepishly “it was getting a little cold in here”.

I’ll tell you one thing – I won’t be loaning him my sweater!