Another day of massages and fabulous breakfasts! And the topic for breakfast was massage.
When I was getting a divorce I missed being touched and then I thought...I can PAY for this! I'll tell you what a massage is...it's an hour of foreplay and you don't have to do it. I know about good sex after a massage! I'm not going naked...we don't do that in New Orleans. Are we doing males or females? I want a female. Who doesn't like foreplay? Foreplay's okay about 10 or 11...not at 8. I didn't even hear Susan...we weren't moaning or anything. I said to myself...don't be pissed off...enjoy your massage. I'm the customer...I'm paying her to give me pleasure. It's time to move on. I have a lot of body parts that need help. I'm a connoisseur of massages!
My massage that morning actually released all of the pent up toxins and sinus crud that I had been holding onto, so I rested up that morning, writing and reading. I think everyone else was out shopping or lounging. It was beautifully... restfully... quiet.
In the afternoon many of us went to the mask museum. Bill and Heidi Levasseur have turned their passions into a lovely B&B...Casa de la Cuesta and Otra Cara de Mexico... the mask museum. Bill DOES enjoy being glib, but he really has researched the indigenous cultures in Mexico and had a lot to teach us. The museum is small but very interesting...and the shop is even more interesting because you can take masks home...for a price. I LOVE masks and we have quite a few so, of course, unfortunately, the ones I wanted were too expensive this trip. But I did find out that the ones Peter has collected for years are much more valuable than I realized.
Then, back down the hill, our lovely young relator friend, Kathrine Hibberts met us at Casa de Tortuga for a tour. Someone is going to have to remind me...it was Lil's house...and she is a friend of someone...Vail? My memory is dim here. It was a completely different take on the SMA space...much more minimal and calm. It was fun to see how different approaches to similar places can evoke different feelings. I realize that I like "over decorated" space but that doesn't keep me from enjoying walking into more subdued places.
Cocktail hour!! And our topic of the evening? Marriage, relationships, and family...
We were JUST good friends. We actually had our honeymoon BEFORE we got married. We went to Little Dick's and Peter's Island for our honeymoon. What do you call those things with the little things on the end?...oh yeh...French ticklers. You are one lucky S.O.B. to marry Wendy! Therapist Vail says he just needed to be in control. Oh yes, you'll loose that baby weight! You have to have a pretty good self-image to have Phyllis George as a bridesmaid. Speaking of being a bridesmaid...all these years Paula's been sad. Do you know how much I've suffered all these years? If something happens to my husband I want to do something I can't tell my children about. I already do things my children don't want to hear about. He told my mother "If she gets pregnant, I'll marry her."
Dinner...I'm sorry...I didn't have my notebook with me so I don't remember what we ate or what we said but I'm sure it was delicious...because everything Esperanza made was delicious, and no doubt many said pithy and hilarious things. But I DO have a wonderful memory of that meal. Paula plucked a rose from the bunch on the table and ceremoniously gave it to me saying that the group wanted me to join them in their sisterhood. It was very touching for me. I have a few intimate groups but they are all mixed genders, I am realizing this late in life that a substantial gathering of women IS very powerful. I am very grateful for this one!
THURSDAY
Mmmm...breakfast. Now everyone wants to try more things...the French toast is particularly amazing.
Laurie has been buying jewelry in Dallas from someone here in SMA so she made an appointment for a tour of his house and shop. We bundled into taxis and went up, up, up into the hills overlooking the town. Sandwiched in among the steep switchbacks are some pretty amazing homes with elegant landscaping and fabulous views. William Harris and Howard Haynes live almost at the apex in a house that hugs the hilltop and spreads out seamlessly into the garden. They've collected things from all over the world as well as from local Mexican artists. There's a small museum of Mexican art forming in the back of their beautiful garden and Howard has a photo display of celebrities in the garage...I can imagine the discussion about where to put them. As we got on into the house and saw a few pictures I was surprised to find that we had friends in common from our shared past in Kansas City. The beautiful jewelry in their sales space is the work of Bill and Luis Pantoja...mostly silver and stones...therefore the name, Piedras. Of course there was lots of trying on and ooooing and ahhhing...no one to tell us to keep moving. And naturally there were several purchases.
Onward for more fun! Our taxis whisked us down the hill and out on the edge of town to Fabrica la Aurora... a renovated textile mill with antique shops, artist studio/shops, and specialty shops like linens and jewelry AND a cafe' where we headed first...except for Bee who got hung up in an antique shop. I bought a lovely faded Madonna and Child painted on tin. Peter's already added it to our religious artifacts themed guest bath.
Well that was a full day of shopping! So everyone needed a bit of time to spruce up for COCKTAILS!...topic? Philosophies and opinions.
People don't change...she's always trying to make everyone happy. What a woman wants is to be treasured...a man wants to be respected. I'm so much better than I was in my 30's. You are NOT! I was so self centered. Nooooo... I just hid it well. Liberals are some of my best friends. Sometimes people just aren't good Christians. Rick Perry...did he come back? I wouldn't pay $200 for a little sleeveless blouse! I thought...I'm in big trouble...but of course, I loved it. I've never really thought about that! He graduated last at med school and he's STILL practicing! It's always good to make the therapist in charge of the bar. I love this house because there's space to have a real conversation with each person.
And that's the truth! We'd been there 72 hours and shopped and eaten and played cards and laughed together and settled into a trusting and close relationship...so lovely.
Now off to The Restaurant...hamburger night... well, of course...not just hamburgers. So-o-ome of us got hung up in the jewelry shop in the front of the gorgeous open courtyard villa...while others of us began to salivate over the menu. A few of us shared burgers since we ordered lots of antipasti ( I use that instead of hors d'oeuvres because I have to stop and look up how to spell it every time) and we loved the shaved Brussels sprouts so much that we ordered more. That evening was the total pleasant dining experience. We were ordering our antipasti and Vail said... Should we order our hamburgers now? Do you think the kitchen will be busy and confused?
Out of chocolate? How about butterscotch pecan bread pudding? Y'all will have to order another one down there! Let's get 2 bottles of rose'. Did she say just 2 bottles?
I guess we were all enjoying our food so much that we didn't say much...either that or i was preoccupied and didn't write down much. On the way home some of us went by the main plaza to watch the wedding parades.
Dinner was so relaxed that when we got back to #7 I talked a few people into trying my favorite game, Carcassonne. I've played it a lot but never with such enthusiasm. The competition and land grabbing was fierce. I believe DeeDee was the medieval champion.
Then a blissful sleep. Becky is the perfect roommate...she's small and stays on her side of the bed and she's fun to chat with.