Random Analogies
"A few years ago I was sitting on a rooftop in New Delhi giving a little presentation. One of the chaps there was a doctor who nodded his head to say "this is just too obvious" while his wife, sitting at his side, just did not get it. I explained it twice then the doctor turned to his wife and said "Villi is like seaweed in the ocean. They wave in the water drawing nutrition into the plant. A storm then comes through, churns up the water, rips up the seaweed and throws it up on the beach. When the storm is over things settle down the seaweed re-grows and things go back to normal."
Or maybe they are like the roots of plant. They are a structure that has a very large surface area so that there is a maximum amount of chemical uptake.
Both are build ups in anticipation of something, some future growth. Both can be emotional draining for all those involved. Both can be pretty messy if not handled correctly. During the occurrence of either, all parties involved need assurance that everything will work out for the better, which is it usually does. Financial menopause is a different matter for a different day and a different metaphor.
