Dear Blog, Yesterday we were talking about candles. Well, I just love having scented candles around the house, especially when it's dark and dismal outside.
I had worked in Admin all my working life (bear with me here - we WILL get back to the scented candles!), then, just as I was approaching 50, I decided to have a complete change and embarked on an Anatomy, Physiology and Massage Course to qualify as a Masseuse. (Mind you, I also decided to have two tattoos at that time as well, which is another story altogether - must have been a mid-life crisis!). It was very hard, participating in the Course, especially as I hadn't done any real studying for almost 35 years.
In the lead up to the Examination, I was also visiting my dear mum every day, who was now in a Nursing Home following a series of strokes. Mum passed away just a few weeks before I was due to take the Exam.
My mum and dad were married for 15 years before I came along and, as you can imagine, my childhood was filled with love. I was an only child, so when I lost my mum, it was a real blow. The only saving grace was that she was suffering so much at the end, that it was almost a blessed relief that she was now at peace. However, that certainly didn't take away the sense of dreadful loss. Fortunately, I was with her as she passed away, and it was very peaceful at the end. The Nursing Home had a lovely walled garden and I remember that, after sitting with mum for some thirty minutes, I walked out into the garden and, all of a sudden, I just couldn't breathe. It was quite frightening. I know now that I was having an asthma attack, something that I had never had before - the shock of losing mum I suppose. Although she has been gone now for 14 years, I still miss her every day - even now, if I suddenly see a little, old lady with white hair, looking very smart and wearing jewellery, it always knocks me back because it reminds me so much of mum. That was how she always looked. Even in the Nursing Home, she wore nice dresses and the Carers would put on her rings, necklace and ear-rings.
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| Mum |
My mind, therefore, was pretty addled when I went to take the Exam. Mum knew that I had been studying, and I knew that she would have wanted me to do well. Anyway, somewhat to my amazement, I passed and obtained the necessary Qualification to practice. I had a nice little room set up at home and, about an hour before my client was due to arrive, I would put on a relaxing C.D. and light the scented candles (you see, I told you we would get back to them eventually!) so that it was really welcoming for them. I loved doing the massage and made several good friends from it. In fact, the whole thing was just as relaxing for me as it was for the client.
Well dear Blog, we certainly seem to have rambled on a bit today. Hope people haven't been TOO bored!
