Soaking

We had a nice weekend skiing up in Kimberly and then, after returning home, unpacking, washing clothes, etc. on Sunday evening, I got up the next morning and started packing all over again.

A woman I admire asked me to join her and 4 other women for an overnight stay at a cabin, soaking in the hot springs at the Symes Hotel, in Hot Springs, Montana, a funky town that seems not exactly lost in another era, but outside of time altogether.  We went there for her Croning.  The fingerless mitts from yesterday's post were made for her. 

After a soak in the pools, we spent the evening making a crown for her of objects she had collected and brought along: stones, bones, driftwood, trinkets, beads, shells, flowers, leaves, all woven together with copper wire, and even a tiny bird, not entirely unlike the cagelets at Posie Gets Cozy, and yet completely different.   The next morning, she wore it while soaking again, and then we had a super-brief ceremony for her nearby.  Not really a lot of newvy-groovy stuff.  Mostly just a fun and relaxing getaway with lots of good tea, and chocolate.

We were friends and acquaintances from various walks of life, parts of the planet, and stages in life.  The friend who invited us is someone that I have long admired.  She is a wise, creative, artistic woman, living thoughtfully in her daily life.  She has truly earned her Crone status.   She and her husband have raised two boys to be independent-minded and caring young men, homeschooling them until junior high/early high school.  She has produced and sold several films for toddler-age children when her own children were young.  She is now a potter.  She has offered me helpful, simple advice that has helped me at various stages in my own life such as birthing, becoming a new mother, homeschooling, etc.  I find myself asking from time to time, "What would K----  do in this situation?"

It was an honor to be asked to come along and be included with these other women.  Now I'm back, feeling renewed, with skin smooth as silk from the water, and minus the aches from the weekend skiing.  Good thing, because now I'm back home to the realities of 2 runny-nosed, cranky, tired boys who are feeling grandparent-withdrawals deeply.  But C and I have another BIG getaway coming up soon!  More on that later, though.

    

Comments

[Viv]

That sounds fantastic. Nothing like being in the company of women, particularly older women, to renew you. I'm glad to be reminded of Crone, especially as I'm drawing nearer to Crone status (although in truth, I'm tossing between the extremes of embracing it and fighting it like hell every step of the way!!)

[amanda]

sounds like a lovely celebration of this woman, and all women, really. It must have felt so beautiful to be amidst all that energy!

[Chris]

What a fabulous idea! Sounds wonderfully rejuvenating.

[k]

I've known many people who've spent time in Hot Springs in the warm waters. It's on my list of places to go on my many trips to NW MT. What a time to treasure.

[Jane]

Lovely photo and I'm suitably impressed that you select the hotels you stay in on the basis of them having blue & orange in their exterior colour scheme.

[Kay]

What a rich post! Love the playhouse even if the boys don't. They'll remember it fondly. It's easy to take for granted now but will seem fun and funny one day.

Must read up on croning and see if I've missed my crone-by date. xox Kay