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The Middle of the Night in Bottom of the Bathtub


It’s 2:57 am on the ranch. I hear a coyote crooning a love song. I smile in bed. Then, I realize I’m soaking in my own urine, a painful, occasional reminder that my body isn’t quite right, sans-prostate.

I get up and meditate, pondering the weighty question of whether I sneak back into the other side of the bed or wash my sheets or slink into my oversized bathtub with some philosophical wisdom from Lao Tzu, a gift from a recent MEA grad. 

I light a scented candle, pour some epsom salts in the bath, bring Los Poblanos Lavender Peppermint Blue Corn Body Scrub with me and sink into my aqua delight. Later this morning, I will venture to the Jemez Hot Springs to take the waters, but – for now – I will blissfully experience tranquility in my own home. 

As I aggressively scrub my right heel which is a desiccated, calcified claw (why doesn’t my blood flow well to my lower reaches?), I read the following:

A leader is best

When people barely know that he exists,

Not so good when people obey and acclaim him,

Worst when they despise him.

‘Fail to honor people,

They fail to honor you.

But of a good leader, who talks little,

When his work is done, his aim fulfilled,

They will all say, “We did this ourselves.”

I realize as I’m reading this, my hostile attitude toward my heel has become nurturing. I’m spreading this pure essential oil exfoliant with the ease of an expert massage therapist lovingly touching each of my hardened toes. I hum to myself my favorite song, Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day,” and imagine how blessed I am that my planned speech in Florida – that got canceled due to the hurricane (bless all those who are suffering) – has provided me an opening for a hot springs repose in the middle of the week. 

Then, I get up and ponder whether I should head to our gym to clock my 10,000 steps on my newly-nourished heels while listening to political podcasts on double speed or whether I should learn something from this hour in the bath. I find my way to my other bed, clean as a Carmelite nun, and take a nice long slumber before the sun rises. 

-Chip

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