On Friday, August 22, 2009, I started out around 11:00 a.m. on my 3 hour drive from Pleasanton, California to get a healing massage from my therapist - Georgia Dow in Grass Valley, California. Her practice is in her elegant home that sits up in the woods, high on a hill, amongst several thousand redwood, evergreen and eucalyptus trees. I scheduled this treatment long before I knew I would be writing about it. However, it’s perfectly fitting to share my experience. Normally, I drive in the fast, left lane because I want to pass other drivers and get where I am going faster. Today, I intentionally moved over into the slow, right lane. While in this lane, I noticed that a lot of the automobiles were older and the drivers were seemingly calm and collected. I turned off my radio that was playing Alicia Keyes - R&B music, and just focused on my free flowing thoughts. Slowing down allowed me to take in the scenic views. As I drove along highway 580 east through each suburban town, I noticed the small evergreen shrubs sporadically piercing through the dry, golden-grass hills. I figured, “Why rush to a healing massage session?” “What would be the point?”
On my drive up, I decided to take a brief detour to my cousin Christopher Clay’s house in Sacramento, California. We grew up together in the hot and humid town of Gary, Indiana. As little 6 and 7 year old children, we use to run around in our white cotton panties with no shoes on, and no shirts over our brown bodies. Chris and I go way back to the days of singing in the Baptist church choir as kids. I had been planning a short visit with him, so he could demonstrate the benefits of Kangan alkaline water to me. Plus, we were going to discuss the business opportunity associated with having the filter that makes it. I admitted to him that I am somewhat of a “water snob”. I am very selective about the water I drink. That’s because as a professional singer, I drink so much water, that I rule out a lot of it, as soon as it hits my tongue. I acquired a good habit of being hydrated, and drinking water is a personal must. I originally told Chris that I was not interested in the water because I buy lots of the “reverse osmosis” bottled waters - Aquafina and Dasani. However, he gave me 5 gallons about 8 weeks ago, and surprisingly enough, I fell in love with it. I had an invasive surgery 5 years ago which causes me pain due to swelling in my right arm. After only one day of drinking this deliciously smooth water, I noticed a change for the better, and the lack of swelling in my affected arm. I even felt remarkably more flexible overall in my body.
Knowing this, Chris promised me 5 more gallons of this Kangan water, if I dropped by on the way to my therapist’s house. My only problem was that I under estimated the time to get to his house. I thought the drive time between Sacramento and Grass Valley was 20 minutes. Its at least 60 minutes of driving on a clear day. Plus, the fact that I was driving at 1:30 p.m. on a Friday was a traffic issue. Now to acerbate the problem, I unintentionally over shot the exit and had to drive back to South Sacramento get to his house. Being the typical Taurus “the bull” female that I am, I was determined to get that water. Remembering that I had mentioned the water to Georgia over the phone, I wanted to fulfill the commitment to get her some as well. So I made the trek back to his house. While there, I looked at his DVD presentation, while he bottled my 5 gallon container. He cooked a light meal of tofu with yellow Indian curry, chopped fresh cherry tomatoes, and served me my first veggie burger. I was impressed that he made that dish.
Since the trip was health oriented, I was motivated to purchase the costly Kangan filter that creates the water. This was a timely detour, and a good investment. Leaving Chris’ house to get to Georgia’s was stop and go traffic causing me to drive at 10-25 miles per hour. Georgia called me on my cell phone. She had been waiting and wanted an estimated time of my arrival. She needed to run a couple of errands. Embarrassed by my lackadaisical driving, as soon as the traffic cleared, I got in the fast lane and moseyed on up the road.
Shortly after I arrived to the house, Georgia came with bags and a big smile saying “welcome”. I immediately gave her a couple gallons of water. After putting her groceries and the water away in to the refrigerator, she escorted me to her healing room and invited me unto her massage table. There, we spent 90 minutes in a room that had soft blue paintings of angels on the walls, opened windows allowing fresh air, trees in a distance and Kwan Yin Buddha sculptures sitting outside each window, offering a symbol of peace and tranquility. She searched through her collection of CDs until she found some pleasant instrumental music. As soon as she touched my feet, I slowly fell asleep with a whisper of birds chirping, and the music playing in the background. I am sure that she did a healing treatment, but if you asked me what it was, I could not tell you. I went into a sleep so deep that I woke up by hearing myself snore. Before I departed to drive my three hours back home, I sat on the veranda overlooking a sea of trees, reflecting upon my day, new water, massage and how good I felt. To top it off, Georgia cooked a fish dinner and included the Kangan water. She mentioned the difference and appreciated the taste as well. She suggested that I notice the way I feel in my body for the next 48 to 72 hours. I did notice that I felt stronger My knees were not aching and my back felt relief. All around this was a three hour drive that was well worth it. What an amazing healing journey!
I am Sista Monica and I am Sistasizing!
I have to remember to pace myself. When starting over, it is important to remeber that you are starting over. Don’t even think you can just start back where you left off. You will hurt yourself and be discouraged.
Now, I have taken to riding at night with my helmet on and the lights on the front and back of my bike. It’s all good! At least I am doing something to get back on track. Yesterday I went to 24 hour fitness. There I was able to stretch my arm and lift a few weights. This has helped my right arm that has lymphedema. The heat makes it swell, so I try not to go out too much in the heat of the day. If you find that you don’t want to walk or run, then I really suggest a bike ride. It’s so much more easy on the knees.
hair stylist could do it. I am all dolled up and wondering if I will mess up my hair, but i have got to exercise. Okay! I will pen this hair up, put it in a wrap, pull up my collar, get my shoes on and do my walk. I have got to walk everyday. Everyday to stay on my sistasizng program. I have to perform a 75 minute set in front of thousands on people. You go Marine! Hub to!
so much more energy. It does not take long to get out of shape. It took me 6 weeks to get into shape, so I have to get back on my job - sistasizing. July 8th, I left for the Ontario Blues Festival to sing with Ben Harper in much better shape. While travelling, I loss focus. I didn’t have the computer to blog so I cheated myself. It was hard to get back on track mentally.