Sharon and Jacques’ Excellent Blog

Remember when you were a kid and got your hands on a Barbie doll or the amazing Stretch Armstong action figure?  (Why dolls for boys are called action figures I will never know).  Remember when you would see how many different ways you could bend Barbie’s arms and legs, making her knees go backwards, twisting her head around, making her do all kinds of strange poses (okay maybe this was just me).  Well today we had a two hour Thai massage, and I think the Barbie karma just kicked me in the ass.

A 2 hour massage sounds glorious.  You think tinkly music, as gentle hands knead away life’s cares, stress and the knot you developed on the 18 hours flight to get from here to there.  As we walked into this great little shop, we were greeted by some lovely Thai women who wai-ed us (a form of greeting, palms together like in prayer with a head bow).  We pointed to the service we wanted.  We were ushered to a seat where our feet were washed and dried, then taken up to a quiet room with tinkly music, futons and comfy sweats to change into.  The smell of citrus and verbeena waft over you as you lie down and close your eyes.  Then the massage begins.  Thumbs press into muscles on your body you never knew you had.  Elbows find their way into places and the pressure makes your eyes water.  And to top it all off, I am ticklish.  Well this entertains my masseuse to no end as she finds different ways to torture and tickle me.  Exquisite pain.

Then comes the stretching part.  All of a sudden I find myself in some pretzel like half nelson and this tiny woman seems to lean all her weight into me.  This feels great, but not.  Then the head massage starts.  I think she is about to poke out my brains.  I keep taking deep breathes to relax into the massage.  I know that I will be feeling good soon, and that all this stretching is much needed, but who knew how much work this was? 

As we stumbled from the massage place, everything seems to be in place.  We feel kind of relaxed, and keep telling ourselves and each other that this felt good. 

In my minds eye, I can see my brother and I pulling that Stretch Armstrong action figure by the arms to see how far it can go.  I can see us twisting that Barbie into all kinds of configurations.   Small children everywhere, be careful.  Somehow, those dolls know they will get their revenge.