Dear Mr. James Thatcher,
I have been a loyal user of your 'Always' maxi pads for over 20
years and I appreciate many of their features. Why, without the Leak Guard
Core or Dri-Weave absorbency, I'd probably never go horseback riding or
salsa dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear of running up and down the
beach in tight, white shorts.
But my favorite feature has to be your revolutionary Flexi-Wings.
Kudos on being the only company smart enough to realize how crucial it
is that maxi pads be aerodynamic. I can't tell you how safe and secure I
feel each month knowing there's a little F-16 in my pants.
Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr. Thatcher? Ever suffered
from 'the curse'? I'm guessing you haven't. Well, my 'time of the month'
is starting right now. As I type, I can already feel hormonal forces
violently surging through my body. Just a few minutes from now, my body
will adjust and I'll be transformed into what my husband likes to call 'an
inbred hillbilly with knife skills.' Isn't the human body amazing?
As Brand Manager in the Feminine-Hygiene Division, you've no
doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your
customers' monthly visits from 'Aunt Flo'. Therefore, you must know about
the bloating, puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our intense
mood swings, crying jags, and out-of-control behavior. You surely realize
it's a tough time for most women. In fact, only last week, my friend
Jennifer fought the violent urge to shove her boyfriend's testicles into a
George Foreman Grill just because he told her he thought Grey's Anatomy
was written by drunken chimps. Crazy!
The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that America is
just crawling with homicidal maniacs in Capri pants... Which brings me to
the reason for my letter.
Last month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I wanted
to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, I opened an Always
maxi-pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing, were these words:
'Have a Happy Period.' Are you freakin' kidding me? What I mean is, does
any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think happiness - actual
smiling, laughing happiness is possible during a menstrual period? Did
anything mentioned above sound the least bit pleasurable? Well, did it,
James?
FYI, unless you're some kind of sick S&M freak girl, there will
never be anything 'happy' about a day in which you have to load yourself
up on Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your house just so you don't
march down to the local WalMart armed with a hunting rifle and a sketchy
plan to end your life in a blaze of glory.
For the love of God, pull your head out, man!
If you just have to slap a moronic message on a maxi pad,
wouldn't it make more sense to say something that's actually pertinent,
like 'Put down the Hammer' or 'Vehicular Manslaughter is Wrong', or are
you just picking on us?
Sir, please inform your Accounting Department that, effective
immediately, there will be an $8 drop in monthly profits, for I have
chosen to take my maxi-pad business elsewhere. And though I will certainly
miss your Flex-Wings, I will not for one minute miss your brand of
condescending bull crap. And that's a promise I will keep. Always.
Sincerely