A-Z Challenge Today's Letter is A for Aromatherapy

This month I am participating in the April 2012 Blogging From A-Z Challenge.
I will be blogging every day this month with Sundays off (except for April 1) using a letter of the alphabet in order from A through Z.
So, Basically, beginning with today, my topic will be themed on something with the letterA, then on April second another topic with the letter B as the theme, and so on until I finish on April thirtieth with the theme based on the letter Z.  
I am number 787.


Today's Letter is A
My word is Aromatherapy

  When my mother was in the last stages of her cancer and therefore her life, her doctor advised us that it was time to seek hospice care for her.  She was living with Ross and I and her care would be provided in our home.
     Needless to say, it was a painful and stressful time for all of us.
     I am the type of person who does not process stress properly and therefore it takes a toll on me physically.
     Whenever Ross rubs my shoulders, he tells me how tense and knotty I am.
     Hospice services were not only provided for my mom, but there were many other services available to the immediate caregivers - Ross and I  and also to any other family members who needed support.
     The caring social worker who visited once a week would spend time talking to me.   She noticed that I was struggling from the strain of watching my mom suffer through this terrible illness.  She gave me the name of a  woman who practiced Reiki touch in conjunction with aromatherapy.
     Even though massage had been suggested to me many times, I just did not feel comfortable with the concept of a stranger touching me.
     But I agreed to have Sheri come to the house to meet and talk to me.
     Sheri's dark hair was a mass of cork screw curls with wiry strands of gray scattered throughout.  She wore a lacy coral crocheted sweater over a black knit top.  Her long skirt was gauzy and flowing.  She had on dangly earrings and a fat chunky necklace.   I remember thinking that I would have been disappointed if she looked and dressed any other way.
     Her voice was soft and soothing as she gave me a brief overview of what a session would be like.  She told me that I would be lying on the table that she would be bringing with her.  She would draw the blinds to block out as much light as possible and she would play soft relaxing music.
     Once she was sure that I was comfortable, she would begin to lay her hands on me, targeting specific areas of my body. She asked me what fragrances I liked.  I told her lavender, vanilla and almond.   She said that as the session progressed she would be periodically passing those scents under my nose.
     I was still a little tentative, but I was willing to give it a try.  We scheduled an appointment for her to come the next day.
    So true to form, I started to stress over whether or not I should have agreed to the session.  By the time Sheri arrived the next day, I had worked myself into a raging migraine.  But I thought that it would be the perfect test of whether or not Reiki healing was right for me.
      As the session began, and as instructed by Sheri, I imagined myself lying on the beach on a warm sunny day.
     The dark room, soft music, my imagery of the beach and Sheri's gentle voice began to sooth me into a relaxed state.
     Then came the first pass of the aroma of lavender scent under my nose along with the scent of... garlic?
Was I imagining the garlic?  I mean I did have a migraine along with the requisite nausea.
      As I tried to get back into my zen space I kept thinking about the garlic.
      At the next pass of aroma, this time it was almond, I knew that I wasn't imagining the smell of garlic.
      I didn't know if I should mention the garlic "aroma" to Sheri.  I didn't want to embarrass her.  I mean I had just met her.  It wasn't like I was her best friend and could tell her "here have a mint."
     So I endured the next 30 minutes, holding my breath at each pass of  lavender and garlic, vanilla and garlic and almond and garlic.
     Funny, after that aromatherapy Reiki healing session, I have stopped eating garlic.

I have created a page for Anna's Diary.  It can be found under the Tab titled Anna's Diary.

I have posted all of the entries to date there, starting with January 1, 1929.

Here is today's entry from Anna's Diary:
Monday April 1, 1929
Shopped in morning.  Home in afternoon.  Mary and Agnes came over until about 6:30.  Drove them home.  Went to 360 for supper.  Jean & I went to Cousin Meg's.  Took a note for some money.