to be a woman

i am going to have a complete hysterectomy. it sounds funny to say it out loud. how am i supposed to feel about that? some women feel like they are losing part of their "womanhood"; the part that makes them a woman--the ability to bear a child. i know i don't feel like i am less of a woman because i won't be able to have children anymore; who would i be kidding? i am 44 years old and have a brand-new grandbaby. i think it means that i am ready to be done with one part of my life and move on to another. i have been pregnant seven times and have four beautiful, healthy children to show for it. that's not a very good average anyway. i had all my children before i was 30; my last was born when i was 28 to be exact. i was young with them, played with them, and had energy for them back then! we had great times together. now i am ready to let them grow up and be productive citizens on their own without me tagging along. i am ready to play with my grandson and be silly and fun with him. but he will be in my arms part-time; and since i only have part-time energy, we will be a perfect match for each other. i have the best four children god blessed any woman with, and now i'm blessed to be able to enjoy the best grandson god could bless any woman with. i am looking forward without a backward glance! i will still be a woman.