Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Taking the Waters--again

September was a rough month for me before the explosion and fire.  My sister's anniversary is the 13th, mine is the 30th,  Our mother died on the 21st and now the fire was on the 9th.  Things didn't get done.  It was hard to focus,  It took almost two weeks for the coroner to certify that Lavonne, Greg and Will (and the three legged dog named Lucky) were, indeed, incinerated at the point of the blast.  There was a lovely memorial service for the three of them, at First Pres Burlingame.  There were nearly 1000 people there.  Our little church couldn't have held that many people.  Our church did the work for the service.  All of our living former pastors took part, because they all knew the family.  Pretty much anyone who had ever sung in the choir sang for the service.  I didn't--I've had a scratchy throat since the fire--but it was a big, beautiful, well trained choir.  The Praz group sang, the quartet sang, and Todd (Milam) played a cello piece with piano that he'd written.  It was lovely.  The service was long--longer still because we got there an hour early to park-and then got one of the last spots.  It was during one of our few hot spells, compounded by the heat if all those bodies.
I was REALLY glad I had mu Sonoma stay coming up.  Got there Tuesday, the 28, around 3:30.  Plenty of time to check out my suite and get over to the spa for the Bathing Ritual before Watsu number one.  When I got to the Spa Concierge station, there was a sign up, saying "Welcome Back, Anne."  It made me smile for the rest of the week.  It was 105 degrees F. when I got there.  For the first time in dozens of Watsus, the Watsu pool actually felt cool.  I had Soledad for my first Watsu.  I was lucky to get her, at least once, she was taking the rest of the week off to celebrate her husband's birthday.  I've talked abut Soledad before.  She is warm and nurturing.  I was her last appointment of the day--I think I had a two hour Watsu--and my body was at peace for the rest of the week.
Wednesday morning at 9 I had a massage--not sure how I let that slip through--I usually get my massages with a body treatment or a stone massage.  But this time, I has just a massage, with Samantha.  At 10:15, I had another Watsu with Loni.  I don't know Loni as well, though she seems perfectly nice.  Her Watsu was more of a stretching experience.  I had the first of three spinach salads for lunch (hold the blue cheese), then had a Body Coffee Wrap (smells heavenly). concluding with a Signature Facial,  Then it was time for dinner at the Big 3 and rest up for another full day.
On the 30th, my wedding anniversary, I started off the day with the Bathing Ritual, then at 11:30, a Wild Berry Vanilla Scrub and Massage---quite nice and quite fragrant,  12:45 was my Tandem Massage with Diane and David, two of my favorites.  The only thing to say about a Tandem Massage is that it's probably illegal in 47 states, it feels that good.
When I was thoroughly relaxed, I met Elaine, who had been having a Watsu, for lunch.  Spinach Salad #2.  It was really nice to see her on my anniversary.  After lunch, I had Reflexology with Reiki.  I call that my own personal CAT scan.  It's almost scary how intuitive my Reiki Master is.  She met Elaine for two minutes and had her sized up--knew what was going on with the grandchildren, too.  Diane said it was the clearest she's ever seen my body.  But she knew in January that I was in remission before I heard it from my doctor.  I finished the day off with a Spirulina Body Wrap.  Not at all glamorous, but great for your skin.
And suddenly, it was Friday.  Don't know how we got there so fast?  I did a mini bathing ritual so that I would be ready for my 10:15 Watsu with Laura.  Laura is as gentle as Soledad, but gives great stretches.
This  is was followed by a Rejuvenating Kur which felt so good.
After the obligatory spinach salad and a shower to wash the Rejuvenating oils out of my hair, I had a Thai Massage with Bill--great stretches, a nap on the loggia, and Chakra Reading and Balancing.  That was intense.  Dinner, ball game, Go Giants!, packing and bed completed the day.
Up early Saturday morning so that I could have my bags collected before breakfast.  Since it was get away day, I had my fingers and toes done, then a Hair and Scalp Revitalizer while fingers and toes dried.  I left around 2--happy for the wonderful time I'd had, but sad to be leaving.
So now I'm home, and doing mundane things like paying the bills and visiting doctors.  I haven't really looked out at the war zone since I've been home.  That will take a very long time to heal--wish I could take all of them to the Spa for a little r&r.
xxooxx