If the world opens this summer...

[Eddie Morales]

Would you get a massage if restrictions are lifted? I know everywhere is gonna do it in a different way. Do y’all plan on waiting until there’s a vaccine?

[KeepItReal]

Would you get a massage if restrictions are lifted? I know everywhere is gonna do it in a different way. Do y’all plan on waiting until there’s a vaccine?

I am waiting for June - by then I believe things will have settled down a bit and will be ripe for the picking.

[Redwine56]

Would you get a massage if restrictions are lifted? I know everywhere is gonna do it in a different way. Do y’all plan on waiting until there’s a vaccine?

I don't know if I can hold out beyond that point. I will be more selective and not as willing to try a new or masseur unknown to me. I'm also feeling that I may be more comfortable with a private masseur with less turnover than a spa. I've been in touch with a couple of my regulars who have been sitting on the sidelines waiting it out. I've expressed my concerns and so have they. They said they will wear masks and take extra sanitizing precautions.

[MmM]

Perhaps an antibody test (which is available now) can speed things along. I know it doesn't ensure immunity for now, but its a step in the right direction.

[Dmitri]

Whether it is a masseur I know or a new masseur I would be interested in, the risk factor is still there. Close contact does not get any closer than massage. (except for escorts). And news reports are saying that antibody tests are kind of sketchy right now, with a substantial number of false positives, so accuracy is not totally reliable. In the beginning, if you read early threads ( Late February-Mid April) 99% of Forum members were anti-massage for fear of contracting Covid 19 and/or spreading it to others, especially the elderly. Now with the evening news showing daily stories of states "opening" , and protests of people wanting to end their lockdown, I sense the same mood starting in the Forum, of clients willing to start venturing out for a massage under certain conditions. In the past week I experienced the horror of Covid 19 up close and personal. My mother of 78 years old had a fever starting last Monday...it lasted until Wednesday when they tested her. She came back positive. She did have an underlying heart condition. She rapidly went downhill, and died yesterday, Saturday, May 2nd at 3pm. None of us (4 kids) or family were allowed in the room. She was surrounded by hospital staff (strangers) dressed in hazmat suits when she died. No one should die like that. I am shell shocked, seeing this up close happening with my own beloved Mother. No one knows how she contracted Covid 19, obviously through casual contact. After this experience, I will not get on a massage table again until there is a vaccine. It is worth the wait, in my opinion, after seeing your own Mother die from Covid 19.

[+ Pensant]

Whether it is a masseur I know or a new masseur I would be interested in, the risk factor is still there. Close contact does not get any closer than massage. (except for escorts). And news reports are saying that antibody tests are kind of sketchy right now, with a substantial number of false positives, so accuracy is not totally reliable. In the beginning, if you read early threads ( Late February-Mid April) 99% of Forum members were anti-massage for fear of contracting Covid 19 and/or spreading it to others, especially the elderly. Now with the evening news showing daily stories of states "opening" , and protests of people wanting to end their lockdown, I sense the same mood starting in the Forum, of clients willing to start venturing out for a massage under certain conditions. In the past week I experienced the horror of Covid 19 up close and personal. My mother of 78 years old had a fever starting last Monday...it lasted until Wednesday when they tested her. She came back positive. She did have an underlying heart condition. She rapidly went downhill, and died yesterday, Saturday, May 2nd at 3pm. None of us (4 kids) or family were allowed in the room. She was surrounded by hospital staff (strangers) dressed in hazmat suits when she died. No one should die like that. I am shell shocked, seeing this up close happening with my own beloved Mother. No one knows how she contracted Covid 19, obviously through casual contact. After this experience, I will not get on a massage table again until there is a vaccine. It is worth the wait, in my opinion, after seeing your own Mother die from Covid 19.

I’m very sorry to hear of your mom’s death. It’s a sobering reminder of why caution is the watchword.

[Redwine56]

Whether it is a masseur I know or a new masseur I would be interested in, the risk factor is still there. Close contact does not get any closer than massage. (except for escorts). And news reports are saying that antibody tests are kind of sketchy right now, with a substantial number of false positives, so accuracy is not totally reliable. In the beginning, if you read early threads ( Late February-Mid April) 99% of Forum members were anti-massage for fear of contracting Covid 19 and/or spreading it to others, especially the elderly. Now with the evening news showing daily stories of states "opening" , and protests of people wanting to end their lockdown, I sense the same mood starting in the Forum, of clients willing to start venturing out for a massage under certain conditions. In the past week I experienced the horror of Covid 19 up close and personal. My mother of 78 years old had a fever starting last Monday...it lasted until Wednesday when they tested her. She came back positive. She did have an underlying heart condition. She rapidly went downhill, and died yesterday, Saturday, May 2nd at 3pm. None of us (4 kids) or family were allowed in the room. She was surrounded by hospital staff (strangers) dressed in hazmat suits when she died. No one should die like that. I am shell shocked, seeing this up close happening with my own beloved Mother. No one knows how she contracted Covid 19, obviously through casual contact. After this experience, I will not get on a massage table again until there is a vaccine. It is worth the wait, in my opinion, after seeing your own Mother die from Covid 19.

Dmitri - first, let me express my sincere sympathy for your beloved Mother. I can fully relate to the horror you went through knowing that you weren't allowed to be with Mom in her final hours here on earth. My Mom passed away last week. She didn't die from Covid but as a result of it. She had various health conditions which spiraled out of control at the worst possible time. As she went from hospital to rehab and back, and didn't eat or drink because we couldn't be there for her, she became weaker and weaker. I truly believe that she held on for as long waiting to see me. I am heartbroken over it. We were very close. I was her night caretaker. She would wait to have dinner with me. I was feeling guilty as if I had abandoned her when she needed comforting the most. We were able to have limited funeral services for her and I try to find comfort knowing that Mom is at peace.

[MikeBiDude]

Whether it is a masseur I know or a new masseur I would be interested in, the risk factor is still there. Close contact does not get any closer than massage. (except for escorts). And news reports are saying that antibody tests are kind of sketchy right now, with a substantial number of false positives, so accuracy is not totally reliable. In the beginning, if you read early threads ( Late February-Mid April) 99% of Forum members were anti-massage for fear of contracting Covid 19 and/or spreading it to others, especially the elderly. Now with the evening news showing daily stories of states "opening" , and protests of people wanting to end their lockdown, I sense the same mood starting in the Forum, of clients willing to start venturing out for a massage under certain conditions. In the past week I experienced the horror of Covid 19 up close and personal. My mother of 78 years old had a fever starting last Monday...it lasted until Wednesday when they tested her. She came back positive. She did have an underlying heart condition. She rapidly went downhill, and died yesterday, Saturday, May 2nd at 3pm. None of us (4 kids) or family were allowed in the room. She was surrounded by hospital staff (strangers) dressed in hazmat suits when she died. No one should die like that. I am shell shocked, seeing this up close happening with my own beloved Mother. No one knows how she contracted Covid 19, obviously through casual contact. After this experience, I will not get on a massage table again until there is a vaccine. It is worth the wait, in my opinion, after seeing your own Mother die from Covid 19.

My deepest sympathies for you and your siblings. I have 5 siblings and our parents are both alive at 89 years old. We worry every moment for them.

 

I sense the same mood starting in the Forum, of clients willing to start venturing out for a massage under certain conditions.

I am starting to sense this mood in the forum also. Your experience has cemented in my mind what I felt for the last few weeks… People’s choices on how serious to take this pandemic, and on how rigorous they will handle self isolation and social distancing is relative to how close to them the COVID-19 virus has affected them.

[beachboy]

Whether it is a masseur I know or a new masseur I would be interested in, the risk factor is still there. Close contact does not get any closer than massage. (except for escorts). And news reports are saying that antibody tests are kind of sketchy right now, with a substantial number of false positives, so accuracy is not totally reliable. In the beginning, if you read early threads ( Late February-Mid April) 99% of Forum members were anti-massage for fear of contracting Covid 19 and/or spreading it to others, especially the elderly. Now with the evening news showing daily stories of states "opening" , and protests of people wanting to end their lockdown, I sense the same mood starting in the Forum, of clients willing to start venturing out for a massage under certain conditions. In the past week I experienced the horror of Covid 19 up close and personal. My mother of 78 years old had a fever starting last Monday...it lasted until Wednesday when they tested her. She came back positive. She did have an underlying heart condition. She rapidly went downhill, and died yesterday, Saturday, May 2nd at 3pm. None of us (4 kids) or family were allowed in the room. She was surrounded by hospital staff (strangers) dressed in hazmat suits when she died. No one should die like that. I am shell shocked, seeing this up close happening with my own beloved Mother. No one knows how she contracted Covid 19, obviously through casual contact. After this experience, I will not get on a massage table again until there is a vaccine. It is worth the wait, in my opinion, after seeing your own Mother die from Covid 19.

So sorry for your loss ?

[beachboy]

Dmitri - first, let me express my sincere sympathy for your beloved Mother. I can fully relate to the horror you went through knowing that you weren't allowed to be with Mom in her final hours here on earth. My Mom passed away last week. She didn't die from Covid but as a result of it. She had various health conditions which spiraled out of control at the worst possible time. As she went from hospital to rehab and back, and didn't eat or drink because we couldn't be there for her, she became weaker and weaker. I truly believe that she held on for as long waiting to see me. I am heartbroken over it. We were very close. I was her night caretaker. She would wait to have dinner with me. I was feeling guilty as if I had abandoned her when she needed comforting the most. We were able to have limited funeral services for her and I try to find comfort knowing that Mom is at peace.

Please dont feel guilty-this virus is a heartbreaker ?

[Redwine56]

Please dont feel guilty-this virus is a heartbreaker ?

Thank you, beachboy for your kind words of support.

[+ honcho]

My mother of 78 years old had a fever starting last Monday...it lasted until Wednesday when they tested her. She came back positive. She did have an underlying heart condition. She rapidly went downhill, and died yesterday, Saturday, May 2nd at 3pm. None of us (4 kids) or family were allowed in the room. She was surrounded by hospital staff (strangers) dressed in hazmat suits when she died. No one should die like that. I am shell shocked, seeing this up close happening with my own beloved Mother. No one knows how she contracted Covid 19, obviously through casual contact. After this experience, I will not get on a massage table again until there is a vaccine. It is worth the wait, in my opinion, after seeing your own Mother die from Covid 19.

 

 

Dmitri - first, let me express my sincere sympathy for your beloved Mother. I can fully relate to the horror you went through knowing that you weren't allowed to be with Mom in her final hours here on earth. My Mom passed away last week. She didn't die from Covid but as a result of it. She had various health conditions which spiraled out of control at the worst possible time. As she went from hospital to rehab and back, and didn't eat or drink because we couldn't be there for her, she became weaker and weaker. I truly believe that she held on for as long waiting to see me. I am heartbroken over it. We were very close. I was her night caretaker. She would wait to have dinner with me. I was feeling guilty as if I had abandoned her when she needed comforting the most. We were able to have limited funeral services for her and I try to find comfort knowing that Mom is at peace.

 

Please accept my sincere condolences on your losses. Just clicking on an emoticon doesn't seem to cut it for me.

[Redwine56]

Please accept my sincere condolences on your losses. Just clicking on an emoticon doesn't seem to cut it for me.

Thank you, Honcho. Very much appreciated.

[OCDallas]

Do we really need another thread on this?

[Dmitri]

So sorry for your loss ?

Please accept my sincere condolences on your losses. Just clicking on an emoticon doesn't seem to cut it for me.

 

Thank you for the condolences. Mom just passed this weekend and went quickly, so still in heavy grieving. What makes it worse, is because of Covid 19, I was not able to say goodbye, all us kids were locked out of the room. Like all the others in this situation, she died alone.

[Guest fm0322]

I am sorry for your loss @Dmitri and @Redwine56. The COVID-19 epidemic makes it even more compelling. My first partner died in 1994 of complications due to AIDS at a time when it seemed like everyone was dying. Seeing the daily statistics and seeing 331 deaths as "progress" points out the gravity of this epidemic. Thinking through personal choices before you make them needs to be part of "reopening". I am pretty conservative about my choices in general. I cannot wait for Shangrila to reopen (I hope it does reopen) and I cannot wait to see my private masseur again.

[Redwine56]

I am sorry for your loss @Dmitri and @Redwine56. The COVID-19 epidemic makes it even more compelling. My first partner died in 1994 of complications due to AIDS at a time when it seemed like everyone was dying. Seeing the daily statistics and seeing 331 deaths as "progress" points out the gravity of this epidemic. Thinking through personal choices before you make them needs to be part of "reopening". I am pretty conservative about my choices in general. I cannot wait for Shangrila to reopen (I hope it does reopen) and I cannot wait to see my private masseur again.

Thank you so much @fm0322. I agree with the points you make as we wish for a return to our favorite spas and masseurs.

[510guy]

I basically made the decision I won't be seeing anyone this year. I am around too many people to take that risk. So I have not looked at massage ads so I won't get tempted.

Edited May 4, 2020 by 510guy