Welcome to the Misadventures of Widowhood blog!

Welcome to my World---Woman, widow, senior citizen seeking to live out my days with a sense of whimsy as I search for inner peace and friendships. Jeez, that sounds like a profile on a dating app and I have zero interest in them, having lost my soul mate of 42 years. Life was good until it wasn't when my husband had a massive stroke and I spent the next 12 1/2 years as his caregiver. This blog has documented the pain and heartache of loss, my dark humor, my sweetest memories and, yes, even my pity parties and finally, moving past it all. And now I’m ready for a new start, in a new location---a continuum care campus in West Michigan, U.S.A. Some people say I have a quirky sense of humor that shows up from time to time in this blog. Others say I make some keen observations about life and growing older. Stick around, read a while. I'm sure we'll have things in common. Your comments are welcome and encouraged. Jean

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Google, Headbands and Acupressure


I love Google. If they’d been around when I was a kid I probably never would have left my room…well, kind of like I am now with the kitchen where my computer wardrobe resides. (I do have a laptop I could take anywhere but I like my ergonomic keyboard too much for that,) Today I was off on a mission to find out why I imagine that I feel better when I’m wearing a headband. There is something about the pressure behind my ears that says, “Hey, Lady, be happy! Smile and don’t eat the chocolate brownies.” Too bad they went out of style for anyone but those under sixteen, brides and Red Hat Society ladies who attach floppy flowers to them and pretend they’re hats in hot weather.

Did you know that you can find directions for acupressure you can do with your fingers at the front of your ears to suppressor your appetite? I guess I should start wearing headbands in front of my ears instead of having those silly little plastic pieces end behind them. As warped as I am I wonder what would happen if you only apply acupressure to one ear and not the other, would you only smell with one nostril, taste with only one side of your tongue? If you apply the pressure to your right ear and not your left would you only suppress half of your appetite?

As intriguing as the topic of ear acupressure for weight loss is it doesn’t answer my original question of why pressure behind my ears makes me feel good and I found an explanation. Okay, so here’s the low down. There are six pressure points around the ear—four in back and two in the front and they are all along what is known as the “Triple Warmer Meridians.” My headbands ends at the pressure point that is supposed to help relieve headaches, anxiety, neck tension and tinnitus. Who knew! But I got that from a website that also talks about Shaman Healing and Tibetan Rites….I’m just sayin’ take it with a grain of salt. Oh, crap! Now I want to Google ‘taken with a grain of salt’ and find out when that first came into use. Another day, Jean. Another day you will be bored enough to google salt.

But I realized, today, as I googled way that I come by my new-found interest in acupressure honestly. Growing up my dad had a Foot Reflexology Map and a special tool and every night he proceeded to find the pressure points to relieve whatever problem he believed he was helping with his nightly ritual. In my distant past I also remember buying a special pair of sandals with bumps inside that were supposed to hit your acupressure points. They were the most uncomfortable pair of shoes I ever owned. Oh course, you’re only supposed to wear them for 10-15 minutes, not all day but who reads the directions when you’re twenty-something?

After my Google search all I know for sure is that I’m glad the holistic care center is way across town because I’d be over there getting hot stone treatments, cucumber facials and acupressure massages and I don’t think I can afford to fall down that rabbit hole. I’d probably like it too much and they’d keep selling me treatments until I drained my bank accounts and I was so relaxed and happy that I’d get mistaken for a bowl rainbow Jell-O----layers of happy piled one color on top of the other.

Seriously, though, since my husband died I’ve had a burning desire to go to a spa---I've never been to one---maybe even go to on a weekend Spa retreat but I can’t find single person is who willing to go with me which means I’ll just have to keep wearing headbands around the house and pretend some big Swedish woman just gave me a massage. ©

13 comments:

  1. I'll go with you! Mr. Ralph got me a spa day for my 40th birthday. Such luxury. Since then I've had massages. Two or three facials (I'd rather have my whole body rubbed for the same price). At least six pedicures a year.

    But a weekend? Oh my gosh! My sister has done this a few times. Usually at a place where you exercise and hike and eat parsley with a splash of lemon. But I think I could even do that for just a weekend ...

    What would be halfway? Google it!

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    1. The eat parsley with a splash of lemon sounds better than some of the internal cleansers I've read about. LOL Mr. Ralph knew how to give gifts!

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  2. I think you'd enjoy a day spa better than a weekend. You can get a facial, a full massage, pedicure/manicure and nails painted, hair shampoo and cut. If you are really brave, you could get a Brazilian Wax (Google that) and have your eyebrows shaped, your chin and upper lip waxed and come out looking and feeling like a million dollars!

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    1. In my wildest dreams when I was young I couldn't have imagined a time when people would get Brazilian Wax jobs. I think they're all crazy for doing it.

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  3. I'll spa with you! But I'm not into the waxing of any body area. OUCH! Guess I'm blessed with fair skin and hair -- no mustache -- so that's good. As for Brazilian…NO! But I understand that good grooming in the area means keeping it all at least under some modicum of control with waxes and shaves, if not all-out baldness. Is there a blog post in this topic? (No boys read this, right?)

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    1. I think this is the blog post on this topic, at least in the comments. If I ever go to a spa I'll make sure my treatment packet doesn't include a Brazilian and even an Alaskan. LOL

      I had my upper lip and chin waxed once---the old lady special but it cost too much for a few hairs I can twister myself, that is when I remember to do it. I'm usually sitting in my car when I do because that's when I notice the hairs, when I'm ready to go in some place. I think it's the lighting in the car that shows them up.

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  4. Funny, Jean. I have one little mole that seems to grow a hair that I never see until it seems to spring forth at a length that it would seem I'd have noticed it much sooner. Yes, lighting is everything.

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    1. I have one of those moles, too! I wonder if men ever get them.

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    2. One more thing and this is going to sound old lady cranky.... I think any bathing suit that requires a Brazilian wax job is too small to be wearing in the first place.

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  5. I can understanding wanting a gal pal to do it with, but those spa ladies will pamper you so much your brain will go off line. You may find other solo women there to buddy up with, but it hardly matters. It's about you, you, YOU!! The only time I went to a weekend Spa retreat, Canyon Ranch, I was so utterly exhausted I couldn't think straight before or after. Afterwards - nothing but sweet alpha waves in my brain...Ommmm But, looking back, I wonder if I spent my money wisely. A la Carte services may serve your purposes just fine.

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    1. You make good points for going sole to a spa. I will have to think about changing my mindset on that. Thanks!

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  6. You have really outdone yourself with this one. You had me fingering around my ears before I even finished the post. Your posts do that to me sometimes. Sometimes I have to stop in the middle and google away. I love google, too. I don't think our generation will ever get over it, while my grandkids will never know what all the fuss is about.

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    1. Isn't that the truth! I can remember making lists of things to look up at the library and having to wait until I could go. Then it would take forever to find the things you wanted to know about in books, then copy it longhand. Kids will never understand why we find googling so amazing to us.

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