Monday, March 8, 2010

Lipstick Kiss



When my middle child-a mama’s girl- started kindergarten, she clung to my waist like lichen on stone. The separation for us was painful, me leaving her, crocodile tears in her eyes, a little waif dressed in tiny jeans and a yellow shirt sprinkled with daisies. I’d done my best to prepare her. She’d been to Pre-K and had play dates. But this little sensitive, towheaded girl still resisted leaving her mama. Out of desperation, before we left the house, I put on red lipstick and kissed her soft, dimpled hand, leaving my lip-print like a colored picture.

"There," I said. “When you feel sad or scared, look at your hand and mama will be there.”

I still remember how delighted she was, as though I’d plucked a secret star fresh from the sky and placed it hot in her hand. To her, it was the most famous kiss in the world. For a month after she never left for school without that lipstick kiss. Yes, her eyes still filled with glassy tears but then she’d stare at her hand, unscrew her grip, squeeze me tight and bravely walk into her classroom, carrying her Pink Flintstones lunch box.

Ironically, this mama’s girl has gone off to college twelve hours away and although I miss everything about her, the way she kissed my cheek before leaving for her daily adventures is what I miss most.

We crave touch. Some need more than others but our skin is hard wired for it. Have you ever had a hot stone massage? If not, get yourself over there as quick as possible! I’ve had one but want more. Let me describe.

Flat, slick rocks are heated, while you lay like a bird without plumage between cashmere soft white sheets, woodwinds in the air, the scent of lavender or patchouli piped in. The world drips away. The hot rocks are then placed down your spine, which further melts you like butta. Drenched with warm oil,they are then whirled, looped and kneaded with delicate intuition over every inch of skin you own and in the end you’re left on the table like a lump of sensual bread-dough, covered up and left to rise again into something gorgeous.



Warning:

You won’t be worth a flip the rest of the day. I lay about like the Queen of Sheba, pink skinned, drinking Bud Light, okay wine, and eating butter-cream chocolates and watching sappy movies, thanking the universe, my family, the masseuse, everyone and his brother. Ahhh……. We can all take a day off from the world occasionally. And should.



Me being rather curious and chatty- even during a massage, but not all of it, I swear- I asked my masseuse about her profession. Did she enjoy this, did she feel it was her calling and was it hard for certain people to relax and allow a stranger to touch them?

She told me she could feel, by touch alone, a person’s essence. She knew whether they were joyful, depressed, or in pain, emotionally or physically. “The elderly bring me the most sorrow and joy,” she went on. “Some have not been touched in so long and are in so much pain it brings them to relieved tears. What a powerful, magical gift, given and received.

Touch your stories. Touch people’s lives. Leave your lipstick kiss upon the world

24 comments:

  1. what a beautiful story and I want me some hot rocks

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  2. I love this post, Dorraine!

    That story about your daughter and her lipstick kiss was so touching. I also was melting just thinking about that hot stone massage. I want one! I want it now!

    Jai

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  3. You will melt under those hot stones, Jai. It's a good melt, though, I promise! Please go have yourself one.

    Lipstick kiss: It worked like a charm. So glad you enjoyed the story. Many thanks.

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  4. I'm used to have from time to time 'shiatsu' and 'reflexology' massages, the latter one including massage of both the feet and the hand palms.
    After reading your post I think I might go for hot stones; it's a 'lipstick kiss' I wish to try.
    Ive greatly enjoyed reading your 'touching' post

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  5. Oh, so right, Geo. I did have a female and not a male...whaa...

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  6. You will get the feet and hands and everything in between with the stone massage, Duta. You would really love it, I'm sure.

    The lipstick kiss-yes, you should have one of those to. By all means. Thanks, sweetie.

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  7. I need to book me some hot rocks right now!

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  8. I meant go for it, Ms. Eternally Distracted.

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  9. When I was down and out with the broken leg and ankle last summer, my husband treated me to a hot stone massage. Let me tell you, I'm a believer in the power of touch. Magical stuff for sure.

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  10. i gots to get me some of those hot rocks...wow.

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  11. I agree we all crave touch. I'm not sure about some more than others or whether some are just more aware of their need. Great blog.

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  12. Magical, yes. Glad you've had one, Stacy. I can only imagine how good that must have felt.

    Brian: come and get your hot rocks!

    Hi Dave: What you said is right-some are just more aware.:-)

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  13. All right, this thing at my comment again. I came back to read your, always clever, comments and couldn't find mine.

    I think I wrote somthing like, even though I am a massage therapist who gives hot stone massages, I love receiving them too. Great image for the sense of touch.

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  14. My word verification was: redlite. Do you think it is trying to tell me something?

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  15. Hahahahaha...You made my day, Ronda!

    And I know you have the gift of touch, and it is a huge gift. Great to hear you get those massages, too. I know they are so well deserved.

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  16. Beautiful piece of writing. I wish I had written it.

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  17. Dibakar, thank you both for the nice comment and for stopping in. I appreciate it.

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  18. A beautiful, touching story. Really interesting to hear how the masseuse views her work.

    http://www.thecleanwhitepage.com

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  19. Tina, I'm glad you enjoyed it and thanks for stopping in. Btw...love your blog!

    Re: masseuse point of view-she gave me great insights, the joy and sadness associated with touch or lack of it.

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  20. Hey Dorraine! I've given you an award on my blog. Check it out!

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  21. Thank you so much, Kat! On vacation but I'll check it out when back. Take care and appreciate it so much!

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