Citrus Retreat

I'm in the midst of a five-day holiday devoted to all things uplifting. Yes, it has something to do with President-elect Obama (hallelujah!) and the general sense that the Earth has started turning in the right direction again. Swirls of change are blowing through my heart, too, and I thought I would give myself a retreat-like experience. At home. I once went on a retreat to Ojai with my cousin Katy and the fondest memory was of attempting yoga on a mat in a forest glade. It was beautiful, but I, of course, was the only one sweating, so the little mosquitoes found me, and to the distress of the instructor, I was the only student twitching and slapping while everyone else peacefully struck one pose after another. It was one of those "let's all get naked and shimmy up an oak tree!" moments that just reminds me how out of synch I am with normal people. So this retreat is homebound, happily and gladly. I am my own spa assistant.

The theme is Citrus Schmitrus.

Day one was a thorough scrub-down of the entire apartment and my little car. Once I got everything gleaming I lit an army of lemon-grass and sage candles and filled the apartment with wafts of invigorating scent. Ahhhh. So nice. Then I cranked up the stereo (is that what they're stilled called?) and am in the midst of an Annie Lenox/Patti LaBelle/Tina Turner marathon. Pure heaven. Then I took a long, long shower with Whole Foods' Grapefruit body gel and shampoo, then slathered on their grapefruit lotion. Even Anita Bryant would think I was heaven-bound now. Never have my elbows been so smooth and moist.

Days two and three found me plowing through an enormous pile of dirty laundry using citrus-scented detergent and static dryer sheets. God, I love Whole Foods. Also, I've been thread-and-needleless for a couple of years (Targetphobia) but I am now armed with the needed items and am ready to sew on a few buttons, mend a few blown-out crotches and generally bring back to life a number of discarded garments that I once liked to wear. The goal is a closet full of folded, ironed, wearable clothes - estimated to be completed by the end of the day. Now we're really talking heaven.

The cuisine for the retreat has been Golden Door Spa- style, with lots of veggies and sushi rice. Last night I tossed up a ginger-saturated chicken curry that was so damned good. It's just a reminder that I can take the time to cook delicious things for myself and the whole experience is a pleasure, not just the shoveling-into-the-gaping-maw part. How amazing is it to garnish my own dinner plate? I mean, all right, it's a little pathetic, but it's mostly a delightful "I'm worth it" moment. Funny what a sprig of mint can mean.

Even BeeGee the cat got into the proceedings, with a daily head-to-toe damp towel rubdown that seemed to refresh him as much as my astringent soapings, and some new chewies I found which guarantee fresh cat breath. We're both feeling perky and charged up.

So far my retreat sounds more like I'm reenacting Scarlett Johanson's role in The Girl with a Pearl Earring. Minus the bee-stung lips. But there's been non-scullery action, too.

The weather here is perfectly gorgeous - mid-50's or so, with the golden leaves about mid-drop. I've had the pleasure of taking a daily walk through the neighborhood to admire the leaves and take deep droughts of clean Albuquerque air. And there's been a daily drive up into the mountains so I could enjoy the scenery and feel comfortable about singing along in full blast Merman-mode without disturbing the neighbors.

What's on the agenda for today and tomorrow? I'm seriously considering getting out a box of Touch Of Gray for Men that I bought a year ago and chickened out trying. I mean, what the hell? I'm also going to slather on some Olay Regeneriste tonight. And there's a cucumber in the fridge ready for some slices on the eyes (does that really work?), or in the alternative a salad. Also, there are two more federal jobs I'm going to apply for, one here in Abq and one in San Diego, and they both look great to me. Applying for federal jobs is a multi-hour ordeal, and to get it right is quite the satisfying experience. It's a definite step in the right direction, an uplifting move. What else? I'm not sure, but I'm feeling anxious to get out there into the world and see what's cooking. Maybe a gallery show. Maybe even a movie. Dare I dream?

Yes, I dare to dream. I dare to whirl in a different direction. I dare to don clean, mended clothes and venture out into the light. With dewy moisturized skin and a big toothy smile.

Life is good.