what's good : pampering
In praise of taking care of oneself
We did just have Mothers Day [in the US] and my wedding anniversary is coming up, but - this might be a shock for anyone who hasn’t read a single other post of mine1 - I am not one to need any specific ‘holiday’ or event to entertain pampering. Sometimes I still go through the motions of checking off tasks before rewarding myself with some treat but I have long since abandoned the idea of having to “deserve” gratification. As audre lorde’s quote astutely states, we are preserving ourselves - our minds, bodies, souls - when we take moments (or hours or days) to be quiet & still & care-full; it’s a powerful power move. So get to it, starting here.
In poetry: I had the good fortune of seeing & hearing Crystal Williams read her poetry a decade or so ago in Portland. Her voice is strong + beautiful and her compositions match fully. Though I have become more of a cat person now, I still adore this poem’s focal point and the way Williams encourages all of us to do as Miki the Scottie dog does. Let us bend or stretch but say, yes…This world, this rub. Yes, let us say.
Couldn’t get more simple + lovely than that.
In beauty: If you find yourself in SW Washington needing a manicure or pedicure, do yourself a huge favor and go to Charming Nails. It’s a bit out of the way2 yet entirely worth the trip - I followed the women who own it from a salon they worked in that was only about a 1/4 mile from my house to this location nearly 30 minutes away because3 they and their staff are so attentive, skilled, efficient, and affordable. Also, they humor my ridiculous need to know + approve of nail polish names before I settle on colors. They ask about my kids and husband(s)4 and travels; I get to know about their families and travels and sometimes a little bit of gossip. Finally, they show the mesmerizing Li Ziqi videos5 on various monitors, providing another layer of relaxation & joy during my appointments.
In music: I don’t believe in ‘guilty pleasures’ because I think it’s a foolish waste of time & energy - why feel shame about something you like [if it doesn’t cause others harm]? I/most people can appreciate that there are levels of depth + talent involved in music (and art, books, movies, TV) but overall I think we can all love what we love and let others do the same6. I mention this because I know there are readers right now cringing a little bit because they see a John Mayer video embedded here. A 20+ year old video of the boyish 20-something, recorded in a Tower Records even. And John Mayer isn’t the kind of profound singer-songwriter Springsteen or Dylan or even Sufjan Stevens is but his music always makes me unwind & unclench everything, and this particular song is one of my favorites for its simple poetry (Lamplight makes the shadows play/And posters take the walls away/The TV is your window pane/The view won’t let you down) and thoughtful exploration of what it means to listen to + take care of yourself. Let yourself enjoy it a little bit, at least.
Briefly, #LeoVirgoCusp
But, they are next to a MOD Pizza, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, and the cute little local bakery called Sweetly. #WinningX4
Read the specifics of my Yelp review at the link - still stands six years later, which was at least 10 years after I first met them.
Will explain the plural husbands in a future post…
I will dedicate more time to her work in an upcoming what’s good, but do indulge in the meantime.
That said, I am not above affably attempting to convince people to listen to/look at/read/watch more cerebral things now & again to broaden their repertoire + minds