In the excerpt from "Prodigal Summer" by Barbara Kingsolver, the protagonist reflects on her physical state, likening it to the sensation of 'hot flashes' but recognizing that what she experiences is more about a pervasive heaviness rather than heat. This feeling contributes to her sense of detachment from her once vibrant existence, as she grapples with the transition from vitality to what she perceives as a waiting period in life.

The contemplation leads her to ponder the loss of her body's natural rhythms, suggesting that her previous experiences with fertility and life cycles provided her with a sense of purpose. Now, she feels like a burden, an 'obsolete female' caught in limbo, highlighting themes of aging and the emotional weight that comes with the feeling of being less than what one once was.