The shampoo was stuck!
There was only a little left and whoever used it last had not placed the bottle lid-facing-down (like I always do) on the shower rack, which meant that the little left was all the way at the bottom.
I turned the bottle upside down and as the thick shampoo slowly made its way down the wall of the 44 Fl oz (130 ml) bottle, I let the hot water from the shower hit the soft spot on my lower right back.
As I watched the shampoo fall, not only was I able to get sufficient warm treatment for my soft spot, I also made a gentle adjustment to let the water relax my shoulders for a while.
When eventually, the shampoo slid past the neck of the bottle into the lid, I leaned my neck back a bit to wet my hair even as I slid my hands over it, from my face to the back.
Convinced that my hair was well wet, I reached out for the shampoo bottle.
Opening the lid with a gentle click on one end of its top, I let a little bit of the shampoo fall on to my left palm and quickly closing the lid with a click at the other end of the top, I returned the bottle to its place on the shower rack, lid facing down.
I wash my hair twice (always), but the first time, I use only very little shampoo.
It doesn't generate a lot of foam but it certainly does something (I don't know what) to prep my hair, for when I quickly wash my hair to drain off the shampoo-ness and apply a second coat, it foams up in a second (pun in-intended)!
Once I apply that second dose of shampoo, I usually let it sit a bit (I don't wash it right away) and I start applying soap on my body (while I carefully maintain the position I've adjusted it to while applying the second dose, so the water doesn't fall in my hair).
I did the same that day!
It would be inappropriate to state the parts I soaped in order, so suffice to say, I arrived at my face (as I always do) once I was soaped toe to neck.
I cleaned my ears first, just the way my dad had taught me as a child, using each of my thumbs to rub hard against the inside of ear on the other side, while my fingers held the ear's back.
Ears done, I spread the soap over my eyes (careful not to let it seep inside), my cheeks, chin, jawbones and on to the back of my ears and neck (just in case I didn't hit it before).
I finally arrived at my forehead (like I always do)!
Massaging my temples, I let my fingers feel the flatness of my forehead and realizing this is the final part I soap before I face the shower to start washing myself, I let my fingers slowly slide upwards to where my skin meets my hairline.
Only that day, my fingers kept moving... a long time!
Even as I involuntarily turned around to face the shower, it hit me how much my hairline had receded, as the water hit my face...
P.S. What a better day to tell this story than the one on which most Indians take a sacred shower after having an elder apply a little oil on their head?
Happy Diwali one and all...
There was only a little left and whoever used it last had not placed the bottle lid-facing-down (like I always do) on the shower rack, which meant that the little left was all the way at the bottom.
I turned the bottle upside down and as the thick shampoo slowly made its way down the wall of the 44 Fl oz (130 ml) bottle, I let the hot water from the shower hit the soft spot on my lower right back.
As I watched the shampoo fall, not only was I able to get sufficient warm treatment for my soft spot, I also made a gentle adjustment to let the water relax my shoulders for a while.
When eventually, the shampoo slid past the neck of the bottle into the lid, I leaned my neck back a bit to wet my hair even as I slid my hands over it, from my face to the back.
Convinced that my hair was well wet, I reached out for the shampoo bottle.
Opening the lid with a gentle click on one end of its top, I let a little bit of the shampoo fall on to my left palm and quickly closing the lid with a click at the other end of the top, I returned the bottle to its place on the shower rack, lid facing down.
I wash my hair twice (always), but the first time, I use only very little shampoo.
It doesn't generate a lot of foam but it certainly does something (I don't know what) to prep my hair, for when I quickly wash my hair to drain off the shampoo-ness and apply a second coat, it foams up in a second (pun in-intended)!
Once I apply that second dose of shampoo, I usually let it sit a bit (I don't wash it right away) and I start applying soap on my body (while I carefully maintain the position I've adjusted it to while applying the second dose, so the water doesn't fall in my hair).
I did the same that day!
It would be inappropriate to state the parts I soaped in order, so suffice to say, I arrived at my face (as I always do) once I was soaped toe to neck.
I cleaned my ears first, just the way my dad had taught me as a child, using each of my thumbs to rub hard against the inside of ear on the other side, while my fingers held the ear's back.
Ears done, I spread the soap over my eyes (careful not to let it seep inside), my cheeks, chin, jawbones and on to the back of my ears and neck (just in case I didn't hit it before).
I finally arrived at my forehead (like I always do)!
Massaging my temples, I let my fingers feel the flatness of my forehead and realizing this is the final part I soap before I face the shower to start washing myself, I let my fingers slowly slide upwards to where my skin meets my hairline.
Only that day, my fingers kept moving... a long time!
Even as I involuntarily turned around to face the shower, it hit me how much my hairline had receded, as the water hit my face...
P.S. What a better day to tell this story than the one on which most Indians take a sacred shower after having an elder apply a little oil on their head?
Happy Diwali one and all...
