A world of difference

Eight years ago, I made an appointment in secret and had laser hair removal on my face in the shadow of the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley.

I told no one. The procedure took an agonizing hour and left me miserably, painfully broken out. Two days later I flew to Venice and spent far too much time pacing that beautiful city in search of something that would give me relief. I had two subsequent laser treatments, but since I wasn't on medication at the time for the congenital adrenal hyperplasia that causes the hair to grow in the first place, it was like swimming upstream.

Flash forward. Valentine's Day, eight years later. Adam drove me to a medical spa in downtown Walnut Creek. I drank wine, he drank coffee, and we sat there and joked about the Botox posters. The procedure took 10 minutes and was entirely bearable. Hours later, I've seen no signs of swelling or breaking out, and I'm hoping that won't change.

Afterward, he hugged me and called me beautiful. Then we went to Fresh Choice.

I'm in for many more treatments, but this is a start.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone.