Sometimes there comes a time in your life when you just need to throw all abandon to the wind and pamper yourself. Lately, like the last 6 years, I’ve only been able to do the quick pampers like take a bath, get a quick facial and foot soak, or even bury my head in my pillow and give myself a nice little cry.
I didn’t even plan this pampering event, but it became a 20 hour affair (not affair in THAT sense). I had dinner plans with John (my best Bud in TX) and his new wife Tamara (I introduced them – thank you very much).
I began by taking a necessary bath, which I turned into a glorious experience by adding a lovely scent from Bath and Body Works. I had been feeling weepy all day – so I really needed an unwind bath. I had almost cancelled my dinner engagement, but decided wallowing in self-pity is simply not me. So I took charge and ran a HOT bath with lovely scents wafting from the water. I then added some nice music. I had picked up this CD to listen to while falling asleep, but it does wonders in the bathtub.
I emerged from my bath refreshed and balanced. (Gosh, that sounds so new-agey) – but it was how I felt. I had spent a good deal of time talking with God in the tub. He’s my best friend you know. And the cool thing about talking with him in the tub is that there is absolutely nothing that I can use to cover myself (except bubbles) and there’s just something very intimate about talking with God when you can’t hide. I’ve done this for years and years.
Comfort food was the next order of business. Yes, coke — lots of coke (drink) – I think the hot bath drained me. Water should have been my choice – but coke won out. I was not in any frame of mind to make reasonable decisions – even though I was balanced. Next up, bbq ribs, buns with cinnamon butter and mashed potatoes. Seriously – comfort food! You’ll be happy to know I only ate one third of everything, but it was enough to offer the comfort I wanted.
Then, off to my favorite place – Barnes and Noble. I love books – there is something alive about books. Plus I always feel like I belong there. Do you think they would let me bring in a cot and sleep for about a week? I inhale deeply as if given a great big giant dose of aroma therapy.
I was thrilled to find an inexpensive program on learning Japanese for one of the kids. The Tamara spied it – a book with Christian Louboutin shoes on the cover. She told me, “You HAVE to get this book!” I already knew I was going to buy it, because frankly, it would look really good on my nightstand. Just look at this cover – it’s marvelous!
I read the first page, and laughed. Yep, this is what I need, a fun read. The kind where I’m not trying to absorb information, or learn some new way to be a better more perfect me. I read some more, and laughed again. This book is the complete opposite of me – just what I need!
I begin the book while sitting on my bed. I’m not comfortable, can’t get comfortable. Read for awhile and fall asleep, for one hour. At 3:00 am wake up. I try to go back to sleep but the book is calling my name. Hey, I fell asleep reading it before, maybe it will work again. I begin to read. I’ve found a comfortable place with pillows propped all around me, like I’m in a little nest. I read, and read, and read. I turn off the light because I don’t need it anymore, the sun has come up and floods my room with light. At 8:30 am I decide I really should go to sleep.
A couple of hours later I’m greeted by lovely Miss Jordyn who wants to come play with Grandma. Actually, she just wants to play with my stuff. Her first stop, the remotes. She picks them up, smiles at me, and drops them on the floor. She then heads to the “do not disturb” signs that I have on the inside of my door. I collect them. It’s kind of quirky, but fun. Her mom then informs me she’s going to Starbucks and what can she get for me. Oh my! A soy, upside down, caramel macchiato, with whip please. …and a Code Red.
I pick up the book again. I think I had dreams of being in London wearing Christian Louboutin shoes. I sit in my little bed nest again..and read, and read, and read. Until, triumphantly I finish the book and realize that I learned a whole lot more about myself than I expected in a simple book of fiction about a woman who wants to be a fashion designer in London.
Not wanting my fantasy pamper moment to end — I write about it — which we all know, is the thing I love to do more than anything.
Here is a picture of the book on display on the cabinet that houses my TV. In the foreground is a card by honey bought me for Valentine’s Day. It was perfect! Behind that are three little bears that he has bought me over the past couple of years. You can also see the Supermom statuey thing. She’s standing on a stack of notebooks. A gift from Vanessa – a reader of mine. There are also two trinket boxes. The blue and gold one used to house perfume balm. My dad had given it to my mom one year for their anniversary – obviously this was before they were divorced. I used to sneak into Mom’s room and smell it. Now, I don’t have to sneak. She gave it to me a couple of months ago. This is a “treasure” box for me. She also gave me a little porcelain hat box, hinge box, with a little porcelain hat inside. I’m not a collector of things, but this was very cute. (Okay – I collect children and books) You can also see the tall black candle holders with the red candles that Ashley bought me for Christmas one year. They go perfectly in my red, black, and white bedroom.
