The Irony of Massage

So if you don't know already, I'm a massage therapist. And if you knew me before I started this endeavor, you probably know how weird it is that I am one. I've always been kind of weirded out by physically affectionate people, I'm definitely not a "hugger" and I generally like to have my 3 feet of space at all times. And all those things still apply to me now. I got into massage on a whim. I just wanted to be trained in something that could make me money. Something where I could work for myself and stop the madness of being a nanny and helping other people run their lives. I wanted to do something that would help me run my own. So as I'm laying in bed one night watching one of my lame shows, (yes I am aware they are lame, I like them anyway, its part of their appeal), one of those cheesy massage therapy school commercials came on and I guess it just caught me in the right state of mind and I was like, ok what the hell, this is gonna be my new thing, massage. Just like that. No prior interest, no deep seeded need to help people relieve stress and bond spiritually with the power of touch, nope, just ok I need a new way to make money, rubbing people is the direction I'm going, let's do it. And for the first time in my life, I followed through with a thought and I enrolled in massage school. Now mind you that was almost 4 years ago. One car accident and a pregnancy later, here I am. It took me a little longer than I planned, but by god, I stuck to it, which more than I can say for anything else in my life. And for some reason, massage and me go together like peas and carrots. I'm good at it. I'm actually good at it. I don't have to fake it, I don't have to exaggerate and talk my way through it, I'm a damn good massage therapist. And when a client's on my table, I'm not weirded out. When I'm massaging them, I'm feeling their muscles and picturing their ligaments and tendons in my head like that weird Robbie something or other video from the 90's, where all his skin starts tearing off and he's like all veins and blood and stuff, yeah that one. I feel a strong bond with human nature, like this is what we're meant to do, we're meant to help each other, to use our bodies and our minds to heal other peoples bodies and minds. And it makes me feel good. But afterwards, if they try to hug me, forget about it. I go back to my weird socially awkward self. Isn't that wild?? I mean giving someone a massage is probably the most intimate thing you can do besides sex. And no, happy endings are not part of my repertoire. Although, judging by the ads on craigslist, maybe they should be, money talks. Just kidding. Seriously though, getting undressed and laying under a thin sheet while another person rubs your body is pretty damn intimate. Which is why I think people feel so comfortable with me afterwards, its like they've known me their whole lives. After I massage somebody, its like they wanna tell me their life story, which is totally cool with me, just don't hug me.