One of the habits I’ve kept from my working days (let’s rephrase that, my salaried working days, as I seem to be as busy as ever, except now I’m in control) is my late-afternoon or early evening Sunday soak in the bathtub. I love baths, full of hot hot water and bubble bath. Along with my favourite magazine and a glass of wine, or scotch, they are my best way to relax, bar none.
I was banned from baths in 2014 for two months following major surgery. I still remember how good that first one felt when I was allowed back in. Baths ease my arthritis pain, keep me away from my electronics, and frustrate my cats. Although I used to have one, an old, battered, rescued ex-tomcat who absolutely adored me, who would come to sit on my exposed tummy in the bath. Getting his paws wet was worth it to be able to sit on me. (Turned out he also liked to be bathed – as long as I did it – but that’s another story.)
It’s also private time. We used to have a hot tub, until it began to irritate BD’s skin and the iron and manganese in our well water made the maintenance a pain. But somehow we always soaked together. My bath is only big enough for me.
And tonight my arthritic hip and leg are aching, the rash on my foot from the monkshood leaf that got inside my boot while gardening is irritating, and I’ve done enough writing, blogging, course work, and accounts for this week. Hot water and a scotch are calling. I’m going to say hello.
P.S: Here is JRR Tolkien’s take on baths:
Sing hey! for the bath at close of day
that washes the weary mud away!
A loon is he that will not sing:
O! Water Hot is a noble thing!
O! Sweet is the sound of falling rain,
and the brook that leaps from hill to plain;
but better than rain or rippling streams
is Water Hot that smokes and steams.
O! Water cold we may pour at need
down a thirsty throat and be glad indeed;
but better is Beer if drink we lack,
and Water Hot poured down the back.
O! Water is fair that leaps on high
in a fountain white beneath the sky;
but never did fountain sound so sweet
as splashing Hot Water with my feet!
Random Ramblings 