Growing up in CA, having a winter birthday rarely altered my celebratory plans. However, a month ago when I started planning my birthday here in Madrid, I began to get a little discouraged as everything I wanted to do was closed for the winter. No zip lining or running with bulls 😋…and skydiving, been there done that lol. I was even told I could not get a fish pedicure as the temperatures have been to cold even for the fish. So although comparatively it seemed uneventful, I toyed with the idea of going to Hammam Baños Árabes, an Arabic bathhouse, but then finally just made peace with the fact that I wouldn’t be doing anything for my birthday and decided that simply being in Spain would be celebration enough.
Nonetheless, being the persistent yet last minute person I often tend to be, I couldn’t let go of the thought of visiting Hammam so I decided to try to make a reservation for the day before my birthday. Of course with it being the weekend of Valentine’s Day I was told all slots for were full but was later informed they had 2 spaces open but only for Monday the 16th (my actual birthday) and not Sunday as I had originally requested. With this knowledge, I rearranged my work schedule and confirmed my appointment for the following day.
The morning of, I woke up, got ready and walked into the kitchen where the kids were eagerly waiting to present the chocolate cake they made the night prior for me to eat for breakfast (My kind of kids, I like their thinking). They also had gifts that they bought for me on the table in front of my seating area. The parents joined in and one by one I was embraced by each of them and given the customary double cheek kiss before eating and heading to class.
After school I made plans to grab a bite to eat with a few classmates. Now, anyone who knows me well, knows that I loooove anything that has to do with aquatics. And the beach, ANY beach, is favorite place on earth. But given the current temperature any plans including either were null and void…or so one would think 😃 .
As we were walking though the city in search of a place to eat, we stumbled across the cutest little cafe where the floor of the downstairs eating area was covered in sand and set up like an indoor beach. How perfect right? (God just be working everything out for me.)
Just Me, Myself, and God
I ate and socialized for a bit then departed to continue the rest of my celebration in solitude and it was nothing short of amazing! I got to Hammam, and upon arrival I checked in and changed into my swimsuit and was thereafter ushered into complete tranquility. I utilized the sauna, sat in the aroma therapy area while scents of Lavender, Rose, and two other fragrances that I can no longer recall filled the air. I drank endless amounts of the best hot tea I’ve ever tasted in my 28 years of living then spent the next hour and a half switching between relaxing “baths” (pools) ranging in temperature from hot, warm to cold.
As I waded, and frolicked in the water while enjoying the luxury of not having to worry about not getting my hair wet for a change 😂 I reflected on life. In this place of serenity, I spent time with God. Thanked him for my accomplishments, opportunities and experiences and even smiled to myself as I recalled how many of them came temporarily disguised as misfortune and/or defeat. I pondered my growth. Thought about where I was this time last year, and even the years previous. As I relaxed in the water I further contmeplated on who I had become, and who I am becoming which internally made me smile yet again. Before long my masseur came out and identified me by the color or my wristband and beckoned me to another space where I receive a full body massage with the oil scent of my choice.
When it was all over, I changed and returned home where I then checked correspondeces from Facebook, Instgram, perused messages, returned missed calls, watched countless times many of the videos sent to me and was overwhelmed by the outpour of well wishes, thus putting the cherry on top of my perfect Birthday Mondae 🍧.
To say the very least, every part of my day was simply amazing. I went to sleep with smile on my face, mentally filing 28 at the top of the list of Best Birthday’s to date.
XOXO,
Londi 💕
