Multiple Approaches to Cleaning

Today was a scheduled clean-up day at my office. You see, we are moving to a new building at the end of the summer and they are urging us to pitch out old stuff that we no longer need. Well, I cleaned vigorously for a couple of hours. Then I escaped the scene of dumpsters piled high with paper and notebooks that would never again be referenced.

Instead I chose another form of cleaning. Just after I found out that I got my promotion, I invited Reya to join me for a facial at Aveda in Bethesda. It so happened that it was the same day as clean-up day at the office. Guess which one won out!

I had never before had a facial, so there was no real expectation. After we established that I had sensitive skin, there was a series of cleansing, exfoliation, and multiple masks, interspersed with steam and massage and hot towels and spritzed aroma, all with dim light and soft music. It was one of those experiences that you wish would never end. It was a deep cleaning that resulted in every pore of my face radiating health. And this is saying a lot from someone who was not blessed with good skin. At the end it was like coming out of a dream.

We emerged from Aveda to a picture-perfect day in very rich Bethesda, with our pick of any number of sidewalk cafes for lunch. Although we felt a little out of our element, we blended in to the point where the waiter said, “You’ve been here before, right?” We luxuriated over crepes and salad with hot French bread and chilled white wine.

What a totally decadent afternoon. I’m clean as a whistle now. However, my office may just have to wait to get the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. I only succeeded in creating large piles of things to pitch. The pitching will have to happen some other day.

Meanwhile my skin feels like velvet. What luxury!