8/6/2019 AvanLapsey

1/1ResidentDecember 2010 17

"CallmeAllstate," hesaid."Youknow,likethecarinsurancecommercial.Withmeyou'reingoodhands." AshekneadedmyachingmusclesIlearnedthestrengthin his hands came from 15 years as a po-lice ofcer trained for special ops securityintheUS,Grenada,andBarbados."Iwasa sniper, he said.

AsIlayfacedownbetweensoftcottonsheetsAllstatesentashiverthroughmeas

he peeled back the top sheet down to thebase of my spine. With my back exposed hebegan rubbing lavender oil in long owingstrokes.Hishandsseemedtoknowtheroad-map to my tension and relieved it with justthe right pressure. Soft ute music played asmy stress sl ipped away.

I met Allstate (Avan Lapsey) at the Mar-riottSt.KittsResortandRoyalBeachCa-sino (www.marriott.com). Id scheduled aKittitian massage at Marriotts EmeraldMist Spa and it was Allstate who greetedmewithawarmsmileandledmetothemassagetable.UsuallyIcan't standwhenmasseurstalktoomuchbutrightawayI

found his voice and accent soothing. EverywordcameoutinasingsongRasta-sound-ing patois. Yah nah know it yet but mi ahgomekyahfeelrealnice."

He said hed switched careers ve yearago when his wife, also a massage therapistat the Marriott, persuaded him. She wastiredof worryingandconvincedhimthatworking together at the hotel was preferable.He agreed and went for extensive trainingthat included therapeutic and Swedish mas-sage, body wraps, skin scrubs, and every-

thing from hot stone therapy to reexology.Afterthetreatmenthehandedmeaglassof freshwaterwithlemon.ItwasthenIaskedif he had any private businesses in St. Kitts.

On this impoverished island there arefewwaysforlocalstomakemoney,somanywork at odd jobs. He expressed gratitude forthe Marriott, but for extra income hed cre-ated a home spa and van-for-hire service.WhenIaskedhimforalocaltourandmas-

sage at his spa, he answered, Aye ree, mon!CoolRunnings."Hisversionof anenthusi-astic "Yes."

Allstate picked me up the next morning.Afteradrivethroughtownandavisittooneof hiswealthyclients' home("forare-ferral, Allstate said), we got to his spa, Na-tures Touch. Not as elaborate as the luxuryhotels, but it was professional and clean.Framed certicates lled the walls, includ-ingaccreditationfromtheSwedishInstitute

and Florida College of Natural Health. ThMarriott had commended his outstandinachievements and exemplary commitmentoqualityserviceandcustomersatisfaction. Emerald Mist Spa had documentehis excellence in service.

The massage table was set up in an aircondit ionedroomwithcolorfulartworkothe walls, candles, and a large CD playeIt was there I experienced a bamboo mas

sage.Allstatebraggedthatnobodyknebamboomassagebuthim.He 'd broughtto the Marriott. He gestured toward a trawith 15-inch pieces of bamboo. Durinthemassageherol ledthemonmybacas if I were pizza dough. My feet wigglewith pleasure. He noticed and asked me iId like a foot massage. Did I ever! In skilful strokes he worked the pain out of mheels, my toes, even my instep. When hwas finished I was a pool of butter.

A month later I was back in New YorandreceivedanemailfromAllstateHe'dsentalinktoanar ticl einthelocal newspaper about how hed stoppe

a robbery at a gas station. His polictr aininghadkickedinandth ismanwi tmag icfinger sbecamealocalhero.Sonext time youre in St. Kitts, look u

Avan Lapsey and his private spa, Ntures Touch. Call or text: 869-662-497or email: natureboy3230@msn.com.

Dorr iOld s(Dor riOlds.com)isawriter,socialmed iaconsultant,webdes igner andInter nmarketer.Herwrit inghasappearedinmagazinene wspapers andboo kantho logies.

By Dorri Olds