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CYNTHIA PACKARD VISITS BELLA SANTE IN BOSTON
by Christine Glidden
 Cynthia
Packard is a successful painter living in Provincetown,
with her 9th show currently at the Chase Gallery on
Newbury Street in Boston.
She is also the mother of four children and a basketball
coach for three middle school teams. She said she wanted
to be an artist, therapist, or gym teacher when she
grew up, so, in her typical fashion, she is doing all
three!
A Type A personality, she prevails on a daily basis
by doing several things at once. The most outrageous
example of this lifestyle was the time she hosted her
oldest son's birthday party at a laundry mat, conveniently
located next to a bowling alley. "My washing machine
was broken, so I combined washing 15 loads of clothes
and bedding with the birthday party. The eight kids
bowled next door while I started the laundry. During
the drying cycle, we ate pizza perched on the washing
machines!" Needless to say, R&R doesn't come easy or
often for Cynthia!
She jumped at my offer to
spend a half-day at Bella Sante, Boston Magazine's number
one choice for day spas. Cynthia has been to
day spas before, but never for multiple services. She
found the spa to be an oasis of calm long overdue. "I
felt like a queen," she said smiling one week later
as we sat in rattan rockers on the porch of her rambling
renovated house across from the ocean. Slipping into
a robe and slippers, she was able to store at least
temporarily,
her busy life with her clothes in the locker. She
found the soft warm colors, new age music, and green
tea also helped her to let go. "I felt taken care of,"
she mused, "someone was leading me by the hand. They
were in control. I didn't have to do anything except
walk to the next station!" The nurturing environment
coupled with not having to be "on" was like "going on
vacation," or "like a dream."
Another thing she liked about her experience at Bella
Sante was how her 'care-takers' explained everything
they were doing without expecting a response, and they
never left her alone.
First, Cynthia had a mini-pedicure,
followed by a manicure. She was led to a throne-like
chair against a lavender wall. Her nail technician,
Danuta Rak was from Poland and had 12 years of experience,
including a stint in Paris. Cynthia loved her gracious
manner and extensive knowledge. "She had lots of
suggestions and I ended up with a soft new color for
my toenails and a  French
manicure for my fingernails instead of the same old
red. It was so fun. I trusted her. I told her to do
whatever she wanted and she used a rounded square shape
which was a nice change too. She was a lovely woman
and a true artist of her trade."
Next, Cynthia had a massage
with Allison Cohen who has been trained in muscular
therapy, deep tissue manipulation, pregnancy massage,
and hot stone massage. "Allison was very conscious of
my fresh manicure and pedicure, arranging the sheets
carefully. My massage was very relaxing, but I really
like to be tortured, so it was a bit too gentle for
me. I probable should have said, "hurt me!" The best
part was when she worked out the knots in my neck--that
was incredible. I could barely walk to my next station!"
Lastly, Cynthia had a facial
with Anne Perkins, a graduate of Katherine Hynes with
five years of experience. "My facial was extraordinary!"
Cynthia said. "She used three different masks with steam
in between and explained everything to me. She talked
to me about my skin type and proper care. It was heaven!"
After her multiple treatments, Cynthia said,
"I was transformed! I could barely walk out of the place
or even speak." It is so hard for her to relax
that this was truly amazing. She plans to commit to
more regular day spa visits to allow herself to re-energize
in order to maintain her "work horse" status. "Right
now, all I get is a hand massage every other week or
so from my friend [the writer!] who takes pity on me!"
Recently, though she did make a trip to the Kripalu
Yoga and Retreat Center in Lenox, MA for a five-day
meditation retreat. She was beginning to spin apart
like one of those whorled paintings you can spin at
amusement parks. "This was a supreme test of discipline
for me. Every single hour I wanted to leave, but I forced
myself to stay. The social silence went against my whole
make-up. But I was glad I stuck it out. I am so busy,
I rarely stop and feel. This was a painful experience,
but also a relief to survive my feelings! It was an
inward journey and I came away calmer, more aware, and
my senses were heightened." She plans to return to Kripalu
in June for a three-day retreat "about who I am."
Cynthia highly recommends
the Bella Sante experience to everyone. I shall try
to keep her to her intention of coming more often!
Brief Bio: Cynthia Packard was born 43 years
ago in Princeton, New Jersey. Her mother, Anne Packard,
who now lives across the street from her, is also an
artist, and her father, who lives in Ireland, is a writer.
She had two sisters, one also an artist, and two brothers.
One of the tragedies of her life was the disappearance
of her brother when she was 16. They never found him.
About this time her father left the family as well.
And her boyfriend was  killed
in a car crash. She carried on and went to Mass. College
of Art, majoring in sculpture. After graduating, she
settled in Provincetown and started waitressing at Ciro's
and Sal's to support herself. Here she met her future
husband, Larry Luster, a young black man who, among
other things, taught her Karate. (Both have black belts.)
They now own the restaurant and Larry runs it. Cynthia
also chose to paint as she didn't have the equipment
for sculpture. She never had a painting class! Her mother
bought an abandoned church in Provincetown for a gallery
and they show their work along with her sister, Leslie,
who runs the gallery. Anne paints the ocean and landscapes
and Cynthia paints women, children and still lifes.
Cynthia has four children, ranging from 5 to 13 years
old. All of them are frequent models for her paintings.
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CELEBRITY
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