The Massage

Today we had our full body massages. We each--Hubby and I--had an hour-long massage.

I was a little apprehensive this morning and not really too excited about the whole thing. For one thing, I had to shave. ARGH! Then there's the question of undergarments. What to wear? Go bare or pull on some grannie panties? I've had several chair massages in the past, and of course the question then doesn't really arise. I've also had a half-hour full body massage, but that was with the same massage therapist I'd had before. Today we were going to a SALON. To someone we didn't know.

The Wild Child had purchased gift certificates for Hubby and me for Father's Day and Mother's Day, so the choice of a massage therapist wasn't up to us. I was somewhat familiar with the salon since I had taken the Wild Child there for a prom hairdo eons ago, and I knew it was one of those trendy, contemporary places staffed with young boys and girls coiffed and dressed in fabulously unkempt style. So, for modesty's sake, I opted for the grannie panties. I was pretty sure it was what would have been expected by these younsters anyway. Funny thing is, though, that it had been quite awhile since these particular undergarments had seen the light of day, and whatever elastic had once kept them from falling down seemed to have given up. All morning I was pulling and tugging and adjusting!

Finally, what concerned me most, I think, was the thought of staying in one place and doing nothing for an hour. That's just not me. I HAVE to be doing something, even if it's just reading a magazine. How could I lay in a room for an hour and do nothing? Really, I needn't have worried. And, for the most part, I KNEW that in part of my mind--that I didn't need to fret about shaving, underwear, and doing nothing for an hour--but I guess I had to worry anyway.

Hubby went in for his massage first, while I wandered down the street to Starbucks and sat outside in the gloriously crisp Autumn morning, drinking my latte, reading a book, and watching people passing by. After a bit, I wandered further down the street and browsed around an art supply store. I would have explored further, but I was afraid I'd be late getting back to the salon, and with my somewhat dicey underwear threatening to fall down at each step, I didn't want to be in a position to have to hurry too much getting back.

Then it was my turn. And it was lovely! The bed was heated, the lights were dim, a flannel sheet and light blanket covered the bits and pieces of me not being kneaded and rubbed, and flute music played softly over the sound system. Until the flute music stopped, followed by silence, and then A-Punk by Vampire Weekend came over the speakers.

I actually like A-Punk quite a lot, but it's not restful music for a massage. While the therapist excused herself to see about the music, I tapped my fingers and wiggled my toes in time to the song. She apologized, and the rest of the session was completed without music--apparently some glitch in the sound system. And, by the time my hour was up, I didn't really want to move.

So, now I know I can stay in one place for an hour without doing anything--and enjoy it! Maybe I'll do it again. The massage really wiped me out for the rest of the day, though. When we came home, we had lunch and then I took a nap. And slept deeper than I can remember doing during a nap before. I'm certainly glad we didn't have any other activities planned for our day, because I don't think I would have made it! Cooking dinner was about as strenuous as it got for me today; the rest of my waking hours were spent either reading or appliqueing and watching TV.

We have no activities planned for tomorrow except a few chores and things to catch up on around the house, and I have a Thimbleberries Club meeting tomorrow night. I DO hope I have a little more energy tomorrow to do the things I want to do, but at least it's our vacation, and relaxing is most definitely allowed!