Today I spent the morning dreaming of suburban London. I imagined myself walking through the same area I stayed in during a trip in 2023. I retraced my steps and checked in at every place I know and appreciate. In this dream, I thought about how wonderful it is that everything feels so close. I thought about the houses where multiple families share one yard, the tight roads that can only fit smart cars, and the Overground line whizzing by.
I think I need to go back there soon.
Anyways, I got my face done today. I decided, after spending much of the morning in bed and not going to the gym, that I was going to head toward the spa. I recently ran out of the facial cleanser I use every morning, and the spa is the only place in the city I know that carries the same brand. It’s a lovely French brand, and the spa has to order it special. They told me they hadn’t yet ordered more, so I said, “Give me a ring when you do,” before heading out. I got as far as Diesel before I got a text from my aesthetician professing that she misses me in Mandarin.
I smiled when I saw that text. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about where I am going in life, and my aesthetician is someone I can always rely on for support. Her name is Wendy, and we exchanged gifts this past Christmas. She got me a box of cookies, and I gave her a dark chocolate set. Life got in the way of me making another appointment, so when she texted me, I dropped everything to go see her, as I wanted to show her how much I value our friendship and the time we spend together. One of my firmest beliefs is that friendships are one of the most important things to maintain. Wendy and I spent a couple of hours gossiping about life, school, and love. She told me about her life outside of the spa. It is a story I could read about for hours. I always like hearing about the lives people lead outside of work. It’s nice to take a break from my perspective.
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TJL