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Linda Ann Robinson's avatar

Hilarious: the opening imagery of bare-chested women riding horses. Could be a Monty Python vignette.

Your mom on your 33rd birthday: terrible, boundary violation. What was she thinking??

I had a partial hysterectomy at age 41 (1992). My OBY after several years decided I needed HRT (vaginal dryness). Within a few months, I went from a B-cup to a C-cup. Stopped taking the HRT when all the evidence of breast cancer and HRT was mounting.

But now, at the age of almost 74, I have very saggy boobs...probably wouldn't have so much sagging IF I hadn't taken the HRT. Just call me the saggy-baggy elephant 🤣 now.

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Thanks, Linda Ann. Or is it just Linda? Yes. My mother. Not thinking. That's the problem. I'm sure if I'd been a bra wearer my boobs might not sag at all, but they're more or less okay. Definitely not as perky as in my younger days. I really don't care about that these days. And HRT...all of that breast cancer stuff was debunked to my knowledge. But I may have opted out if I told about increase in breast size....was never interested in being larger. I love elephants! 🐘🐘🐘 xo

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Naomi Bindman's avatar

Wonderful interweaving of serious history/social commentary with personal experience and insight. Made me wonder if there might be any connection between formula feeding and later EDs... Also the honesty of your ending, as difficult as it may have been to write about, bumps up the meaning and intensity of this piece.

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Wendy Varley's avatar

What a terrific riff on the theme, Nan, the positives, the negatives and the neutrals. I can't believe your mother squeezed your boobs like that. Ouch.

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Thanks, Wendy. Yes. My mother. Ouch is right. xo

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Moorea Maguire's avatar

Such a great multi-faceted topic — nursing, politics, culture, health, sexuality. That’s messed up what your mom did and said to you on your birthday.

I love how on European beaches, most girls and women don’t wear a top. And I like the message that sends to boys and men.

I used to not wear a bra, and I thought the shirts I wore concealed that fact. I was wrong, according to an 8th grader in the school I taught at. I’ve always worn bras since. 😞

I must say it never occurred to me to sample any of my lovers’ breast milk. 😆

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Thanks, Moorea. It was so interesting to write about all these things. I used to go to the Grove and The Pines in Fire Island in my twenties, and I always went topless...except when I was there with my father. He wasn't interested in seeing my breasts, so I'd make a concession. But it really pissed me off. I don't care if people can tell I'm not wearing a bra. It's pretty clear that I'm not. Sometimes I'll wear an tanktop undershirt, which does a little to conceal, but not much. And as I said, if other people have a problem with it, judgments, that's their issue, not mine. Oh well. Changing the world, one breast at a time??? xo

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Moorea Maguire's avatar

Yep, that would be their problem.

Did you ever go to the Michigan Womyn's Music Fest? That was one place I had no hesitation in going topless. 😁

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Liza Debevec's avatar

Also, your mother really sounds like a cruel and disrespectful person. I am really sorry about your experience.

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Nan Tepper's avatar

She has her moments. I'm on a break right now, as you may already know. The problem in a nutshell is she possesses no boundaries at all. We are all many things. There are some terrible stories, but there are also some good ones. xo

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Liza Debevec's avatar

I was flat chested until 15 and always had smallish boobs. At some point I started loving them, but I often thought they made me 'less feminine" because of the narratives around boobs.

Also, in other news, I was inspired to do a Live on substack, also because of your videos. It feel like sth I could try. And now I did it and I had an absolute blast.

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Hey Liza! I love having smallish boobs. I never wanted more. I'm glad you did a Live. They're fun. Keep doing them if they make you happy. xo

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