The dream of being a model has lived in the hearts of young girls arguably since the advent of advertising. Look at the popularity of “America’s Next Top Model,” for example. Heading into it’s tenth season, the reality TV show about aspiring models navigating through the cut throat business of high fashion modeling, shows no signs of dimi-nishing viewership. Partly, I think it’s because its audience (largely women) get a chance to live out their secret dreams through those beautiful young women seen on TV. Let’s face it, the dream of being a super model is, for most of us, just that: a dream. Or is it?
William A. Baker is a man who understands dreams; he’s been living out his dreams his entire life. I sit down with Baker to talk about his life and current projects. Having read his biography, I already know this: Baker auditioned for and earned a spot on the Dodger’s Minor League team in Washington D.C. He was close to thirty-years-old, an age most would say was “too old” to be a professional athlete. Baker has worked and traveled with major recording artists such as KISS, Earth, Wind, and Fire, Prince, Van Halen, Rod Stewart, B.B. King, Aretha Franklin and many more, He’s had a chance to work along side Steven Spielberg, David Lynch, Joel Schumacher, Antoine Fuqua, and meet all star NBA players such as Kobe Bryan, Derek Fisher, and former NFL great Deacon Jones…the list goes on. Yet the man who I sit down with to interview looks serene and humble. At 51, he still looks very athletic yet he has an unimposing way about him that makes you feel at home; , ....
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I’ll share a secret with you – day spas and retreats terrify me beyond belief. Perhaps it’s a self-esteem issue (these people are really here just to make me feel happy and relaxed?) or maybe it just makes me nervous that I will be forced to endure strangers touching me and walking around in bathrobes like it’s a college dorm. Whatever the reason, I’ve been accordingly reluctant to participate in friend’s “spa days,” inventing some excuse about the number of dishes in my sink or a neighbor’s dog I promised to walk.
So when I stepped into Sofitel LA’s Le Spa, I took a deep breath and tried not to panic. But I was immediately (and surprisingly) put at ease by two extraordinarily friendly receptionists in a small and tasteful waiting room. I was also relieved to see that the rest of the spa was hidden behind frosted glass doors; I didn’t have to worry about being seen in my bathrobe by hundreds of people speeding down Beverly. I also later discovered that the appointment times are deliberately staggered to give clients as much privacy as possible; it’s likely that in your entire visit, you may only see one or two other people.
I was first led into a women’s changing room with tasteful lockers providing the plush bathrobe I so had feared and a fluffy pair of slippers. With dark, muted décor and relaxing music, you instantly forget that you’re still smack in the middle of a metropolis. In fact, by the time I changed into the robe and headed down to the interior lounge/waiting area, I’d completely forgotten to be nervous. ... to read more
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