My birthday (part II)

Connie's waiting for me outside the room, and as I thank her, i feel a special glow from my eyes and heart. I hug her as if she is a dear friend, because she now is. As she's holding me, i muster "thank you." She pulls away and says "I knew as soon as I put my hands on you that you needed me. I prayed for you while you were on that table, and I know that everything is going to be ok."

I walked away, and to the hot springs, still in the dress I was wearing as I arrived.

Only a few hours earlier, I had answered the phone with my best friend on the other end. I told her how much I wanted to be excited about my birthday. Trying to think of what to do that I could get excited about doing. First, it was the wineries in Santa Barbara, but my head kept flashing to twilight, each sip of wine bittersweet with knowing I'd need to somehow drive home. "Maybe a massage," I told her. As we hung up, and I summoned the vitality it took to get out of bed, I searched "spas, LA.." Such and such Westwood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica. No thanks..

Halfway down the page, I noticed the words "hot springs." In LA? Not possible..

60 miles outside, to be exact. And as I continued to scroll down the page, there were the words that got me dressed; "Free admission on your birthday."

I was in the car 10 minutes later, in a dress, with only my purse, and a swimsuit stuffed inside. Driving down the 10, I called to book a service. The man at the hot springs wished me a happy birthday, but, he said "the spa has been booked solid for weeks." Little did i know, this place was a secret to enough people that a Saturday in June was assuredly not the time to go. Bachelorrette parties, anniversaries..

But the car wouldn't turn around. It passed exit after exit, continuing on course. Ok. So i was still going. At least i could sit in the mineral hot springs. That would be cool. Never done it..

After half an hour on the 10, I realized the directions were leading me straight into the desert. I should've guessed at this point that the experience would be magical. In the past three years, the desert is where i've gone to heal. Never realizing that each trip would change me profoundly.

As I parked the car, and walked up, I heard the voices of the bachelorette party people and anniversary party people, all probably conversing with eachother. I wouldn't be fitting in here today, would i...

At the front desk, I got a high-five from the guy checking me in. "Happy Birthday!"

I told him that i was here to sit in the spring, and he explained that there were several for me to sit in. I pictured myself, gracefully spending the day going from one hot tub to the next, never getting bored of the hot water or the bachelorettes.

I saw a menu for the cafe, and knew a gluttoness lunch would be exciting. Maybe i'll even sip champagne in the hot spring, excuse me, hot spring(s).

I confirmed with the high-fiver that all services at the spa were booked solid, and he confirmed with a regretfull nod and an expression i can best describe as "angst." Then, as he double checked, I saw the blue glow of the screen illuminate the angst into ecstatic disbelief. "Can you be changed in 10 minutes?!!"

"Um. ok?"

A big, blank area in the massage schedule.

"This never happens.." I had heard something similar from the dude on the phone when i was driving. The cancellation policy was 24 hours, meaning appointments rarely got cancelled the same day, as the cancellee would be charged in full.

But, alas, someone had done it.

And in 10 minutes, there would be a massage therapist with an empty table. for me.

Turns out, it was Connie.

ANd after my time with her, as she claimed that it was a miracle that I was there when I was, I agreed with her.