Problem was the masseuse. I've had her before, once before. She is the second masseuse I've used at this place. The first one was a revelation: Strong hands, she knew where to untie all my knots, and she was so cool to talk to, both informative with what she was doing as well as friendly when we were making small talk. I have tried for the longest time to get her again, for years actually, but when I try to schedule her online, she's not available. This reservation system shows the first date she is available, and it's the damnedest thing, but it says she isn't available for months, literally months. She's great, but I can't believe she's that in demand. This massage place is in an office park in the suburbs, for crissake.
So the one I had last week was the second time I've had this other masseuse. She's good, but the first time I had her, she walked in with a cane. I couldn't believe someone who has trouble walking would do massages, and I was wrong, she was very powerful with her hands as well. But the juxtaposition kind of stayed with me, and in a bad way, even though she did nothing wrong.
Last week I was desperate for a rubdown, so I went to this place, which I hadn't been to in more than a year, and I got this second masseuse because the first one was still booked out months in advance. So imagine my surprise when I got to the office park (I was asked on a voicemail left for me if I was willing to move up my reservation; I called back and said work was probably going to keep me where I was at; I only got there ten minutes before my scheduled time) and saw both masseuses just sitting there. I was going to ask the first masseuse why she was there and when can I get a massage from her, but that would've been rude to the second masseuse who ushered me into the room.
I can't complain that the two-hour massage was bad. Time actually dragged, which is something weird to say when you're theoretically being pampered like this. Also, I was face down for half the time, and in the end there my face really began to hurt. I can't sit face down like that for long, and that's something I need to be cognizant about. Maybe two hours is a bit too long.
But -- and again, the massage itself was very relaxing -- this masseuse kind of bugged me even more. There are two reasons that I can recall (although I thought I had one or two more complaints about her but forgot). One, she inadvertently knocked me in the back of the head a few times with her forearms. Not relaxing. Two, and worse, she had three or four really nasty coughing fits during our session. She said that she was doing that because the cleaning lady was around. I don't buy that. I think she had something, and for a few days after the massage I felt like I caught that nasty something from her. I don't think I got sick, but still, having a masseuse get into several coughing fits without doing all she can to cover her mouth puts a lie to the tranquil, antiseptic atmosphere that is the ideal environment for a rubdown.
So, will I go back to her, and this place? Probably, though probably not for a while. Massages are expensive. Plus, I still cannot fathom how this first masseuse is booked months in advance when she was just sitting around when I came in, and a piece of me wants to ask questions about that. But, maybe this second masseuse will be healthier when I get a massage from her again.
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