The virtual vacation is an idea Michelle Wellington, co-owner of Soft Shell, is just beginning to truly appreciate. While computer travelers enjoy visual and auditory stimulation on their journeys, she believes that all five senses should receive equal attention whenever possible.

That philosophy is evident the moment you step into Soft Shell, a store that offers massage and facial services, as well as natural body products. An enlarged detail from Botticelli's Birth of Venus, with the goddess poised on that famous scallop shell gazes down on all the potions and finery harmoniously arranged in the small but spacious shop. Michelle herself is not a Venus worshipper, but she does believe in the archetype's power to engage customers in a quest for the true source of their strength.

Unlike creatures whose shells act as armor, humans must acknowledge, even celebrate, their obvious vulnerability. Soft Shell caters to clients who tend to be sensitive to the artificial colors, scents, and other chemicals found in many body products. The benefits of botanicals and essential oils continue to impress Michelle and her partner, Howard Voskuyl, and help determine the evolution of the store's product line. Her desire to "provide ways to relax without escaping" is also stressed in the massage and facial services she and her staff provide. The cozy, private treatment room is an oasis of serenity that should be experienced in person. Soft Shell is a place that, even for the virtual visitor, invites awareness of all the senses, the pleasures and possibilities of self-acceptance and love.