Where Sanitation and Courtesy Prevail

Why is anonymous nudity so much easier than familiar nudity? I mean, having played on sports teams since middle school, I really feel much like the Emperor in New Clothes strutting my stuff in locker rooms. If there's a social norm that makes it okay to slam your sweaty body up against a stranger on the basketball court, then why not create a norm of stark-necked conversations in locker rooms? Recently, a co-worker announced to my boss and I on her way out of the office that she was on her way to Lake Steam Baths' Ladies Night...(www.lakesteam.com). We of course held her back so she could explain the grin on her face. Not only does the place have the best motto in the universe - "Where Sanitation and Courtesy Prevail" - but Gurdie, the German matriarch, has also designed a place where women can get an array of interesting spa-like services. Like naked salt scrub massages from large naked German women and seaweed rope whippings followed by a bucket of ice water dousing. Or you can just enjoy terraced steam room after steam room. She suggested we all go together sometime. She was joking. But I think I might check it out...just don't ask me which day.