Photography and Text by Corey Amaro
After the Marburger fair my dear friend Mary (from Austin who I met last year from blogging), picked French Husband and I up and took us to her home. On the way to her home she told us she had a surprise for us… we expected Mexican food, good music and a few beers. Mary is a kick in the pants, she knows we need a fixin' of burritos when we come to the States —
We assumed she was going to stuff us silly….
We had Mexican food to be sure, but that was not the surprise she had waiting for us…
After a hot shower and a good night sleep, Mary told we was inviting us to Lake Austin Spa
Now, I do not know if you have ever been to a spa, a full blown, off the charts spa, I know I certainly haven't and Lake Austin might have spoiled us for life. Literally.
The moment we walked in I knew I was doomed to blog all my life. How if I hadn't blogged I would not have met Lynn, who invited me to Marburger, which is a heartbeat away from Austin. Mary would have never invited me last year to speak at her shop, and I would NEVER be her guest this year at Lake Austin Spa… but here I was with French Husband strolling the grounds in a bathrobe, walking on air after a full body massage… darn blogging!
Lake Austin Spa… you have spoiled me for life, do you know that? Such a beautiful place one that makes you feel like heaven is yours, that you can have your cake and lick the frosting off too. It is not pretenious, nor snobby, it is like a dream that you do not want to wake up from.
Spoiled far too spoiled were we.
I couldn't thank Mary enough. It was pure bliss.
Holy Mother of God was it good.
When Mary told us we were going to the spa we told her we didn't have the proper attire packed in our suitcases. She told us, "The only thing you need is your swimsuit. The spa provides everything: Bathrobes, slippers, towels, lotions, shampoos, blow dryers, drinks, food, beauty… fainting couches, books, you name it, and I mean name it and it is available."
We grabbed our swimsuits without a moment of hesitation.
French Husband and I were speechless at Mary's beyond thoughtful gesture of kindness.
I pinched French Husband instead of myself.
He said, "Ouch!" So I knew it was really true.
After a Turkish bath, the sauna, a dip in the jacuzzi, a walk in the park, a swing on the hammock, a kiss to French Husband, a giggle with Mary, I had a massage by Karen who practices the Trager method
Karen is a native Californian. We were certain that our paths crossed in the Karma Cafe or the I Beam in San Francisco back in 1984. Kindred spirits. Of course I invited her to come visit me…. "I'll cook and you can give massages!" She's gamed.
After the massage she said, "You can get up when you feel like it."
With a delirious laugh I replied, "I am never leaving."
Twenty thousand moments later, with tears in my eyes I met up with French Husband and Mary. They were glowing pink, French Husband could hardly walk…. He said, "Corey, after the massage my masseuse said, "You can get up when you are ready." I told her I was never going to be ready." I laughed and told him I said the same thing.
Then I went back and took another Turkish bath, sat in the sauna, dipped in the jacuzzi, had a walk in the
park, swang on the hammock, kissed French Husband, hugged
Mary, and praised God.
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