Massage has been a part of my life since I was old enough to rub my mother's feet. She was a very active woman with flat feet and it was my job to rub them every night, while she watched the evening news. For a five year old, rubbing feet was not high on the list of fun things to do. So after about 5 minutes, I would complain and whine that my hands hurt and I wanted to go play.

Nine years later, my sister came along. We created a circle of three which began a tradition in front of every Dallas Cowboy's game. I had my mom's feet, she had my sister's feet and my sister had mine. One big circle of massage!

Even though I grew up with massage, I never thought once about actually going out and getting one or becoming a massage therapist. My mother had taught me to be thrifty and massage was never to be put on the "Necessity" list....until one day.

I was a recruiter at a construction company. Work was fast and furious. I got a catch behind my shoulder blade that just wouldn't let go. I went to the doctor who gave me anti-inflammatory pills and muscles relaxers. Then I couldn't think to do my job and they really didn't help anyway.

There was a massage school just across the highway from the office and one of my co-workers suggested I get an appointment with one of the therapists there. I gasped "You have got to be kidding! I can't afford a massage!" I remember her words exactly. "Why not. You just gave the doctor a lot of money for nothing." She was right. I made the appointment and went that afternoon.

I will never forget how I felt after Lynn gave me my first massage. I could breathe again without being in pain. That was all I needed. "Just sign me up," I said. That was over 14 years ago. Now my family laughs with me because that little girl who rubbed Mom's feet so long ago does it for a living today and loves every minute of it.

Wanda

(Editor's note - This little girl is also responsible for getting Mike Hinkle into massage. Which means without her influence, Mike would not have gone to school, started the World Massage Festival or The Massage Therapy Hall of Fame.