Shoals Bliss

08/20/2025

🩵💚 As the final days of Shoals Bliss draw near, I’ve been thinking about what truly matters in the journey we’ve shared together.

This zebra painting by Kendall Stansell was created for Dysautonomia Awareness Month in October. The zebra has long been a symbol for rare diseases—an image that reminds us of the hidden struggles many carry, and the strength it takes to live with them each day.

Sharing this piece feels like the right way to close the art chapter of Shoals Bliss. It reflects not only awareness, but also the beautiful, creative spirit of the Shoals community—a spirit that has always inspired me.

Thank you for walking with me, for supporting this little dream, and for being part of something bigger than any one person.

🩵💚

Pax Christi,
Randy

08/18/2025

The Last Massage

Today, the last touch was given.
A quiet room, a steady breath,
and the rhythm of hands meeting soul—
a journey years in the making,
ending in silence,
yet echoing in my heart.

Each session was more than work—
fire and tenderness entwined,
healing poured through touch and presence.
Some moments burned bright and pure,
others lingered with a sweetness edged in ache.
But all of them, every one,
left their mark upon me.

Now passion folds into memory,
and memory into gratitude.
The table is empty tonight,
yet my spirit is full.
This chapter ends not with goodbye,
but with the quiet echo of a final note—
still playing in me.

🩵💚
—Randy

08/16/2025

08/15/2025

🌿 An Earlier Goodbye 🌿

I had planned to welcome you at Shoals Bliss through mid-September, but sometimes life brings a change in the timeline. The new tenants for our space are ready to move in earlier than expected, so Shoals Bliss will be closing its doors sooner than planned.

My heart is full of gratitude for every person who has walked through these doors — for the trust, conversations, laughter, and quiet moments of peace we’ve shared. You’ve made this little studio a place of connection and care, and I will carry that with me always.

Thank you for letting me be part of your journey toward rest and renewal. This chapter is closing sooner than I thought, but I’m deeply thankful for every page we’ve written together. 🩵💚

— Randy

08/06/2025

🌿 Shoals Bliss is Winding Down 🌿

This is one of the hardest posts I’ve ever written.

August 16 will be the last day to book appointments online.

If you’re hoping to come in between August 17 and September 13, please call or text 256-366-2261—I’ll still be offering a few sessions during that time.
I will not be accepting any clients from September 15 to September 30, as I begin to close this chapter with intention.

Shoals Bliss has never just been a business. It’s been a place of peace, music, and connection—because of all of you who walked through the door and brought your whole selves in.

After September 30, Shoals Bliss will be officially closed. But if you’d like to reach out, you’re welcome to call or text for information.

Thank you for every moment, every memory, every chance to be part of your story. If this place ever brought you a little peace, I’d love to hear about it below. 💬

I’ll share a final goodbye as we reach the end—but for now, just… thank you.

With deep gratitude,
—Randy

08/04/2025

📣 Big News from Shoals Bliss 💆‍♀️💜

This week we say goodbye (for now) to someone truly special: Johanna Robertson, LMT, will be finishing her last week with us at Shoals Bliss.

Working alongside Johanna has been a blessing. Her warmth, talent, and joyful spirit have brought so much light to our space. She’s not just a skilled massage therapist — she’s a joy to be around and has touched many lives here with her healing hands and kind heart.

✨ But this isn’t the end — it’s a beautiful new beginning.

Johanna will be continuing her massage therapy journey at The Cascades Head Spa and will begin seeing clients there starting August 11. We hope you’ll continue supporting her in this exciting next chapter!

Please join us in thanking Johanna for her time at Shoals Bliss and wishing her all the best as she shares her gifts in a new space. 💆‍♀️💫

— With heartfelt gratitude,
Randy
Shoals Bliss

07/14/2025

🎵 Help Shape the Final Massage in D Major Playlist 🎵

As Shoals Bliss prepares for its final bow, there’s one last playlist to build — and this time, I want it to include your story.

My Massage in D Major sessions have always been guided by music that’s deeply personal — drawn from moments that shaped me: childhood, the Navy, heartbreak, healing, joy, starting over. Now, I’d love to hear from you.

What’s a song that has tugged at your heart?
The kind that holds your grief… your joy… your fight… your peace.
The kind that makes you stop in your tracks — because it knows you.

One of mine? “A Symptom of Being Human” by Shinedown. That one cuts deep — and reminds me we’re all doing our best just to feel seen, understood, and whole.

Drop yours in the comments and tell me why it stays with you. No pressure to be poetic. Just real.

Let’s build something together — a final soundtrack that reflects the full spectrum of being human. 🩵

Randy
Shoals Bliss, LLC
Self-Care Studio

05/26/2025

In solemn remembrance this Memorial Day

Today, we pause to honor the 79 brave souls of the USS Harder (SS-257), a Gato-class submarine that served with distinction during World War II.

Nicknamed “Hit ’Em Harder,” the Harder was commanded by Medal of Honor recipient Commander Samuel D. Dealey. In just six war patrols, she sank multiple enemy vessels and disrupted key supply lines in the Pacific.

On August 24, 1944, during operations near the Philippines, the Harder was detected by Japanese forces and struck by depth charges. She was lost with all hands. For 80 years, her resting place remained unknown—until 2024, when her wreck was discovered 3,750 feet beneath the waves of the South China Sea.

The U.S. Submarine Service endured the highest casualty rate of any American military branch in World War II—about one in five submariners never returned home.

At Shoals Bliss, we remember. We honor. We will never forget.

“Eternal Father, strong to save…”

Randy
Shoals Bliss, LLC
Self-Care Studio