An Artist's Hands

I paint.

I sand.

I glue.

I generally DO NOT have pretty nails.

I mean . . .really - why bother.

OK - truth be told -

I used to go and have my nails done every two weeks no matter what.

It was a vanity thing.

Don't judge me too harshly.

I have short stubby fingers and short stubby toes.

Seriously - I know this to be true.

Nothing you can say will change my mind.

A boyfriend in high school told me my toes reminded him of Fred Flinstone.

Cartoon toes.

For that reason - I used to spend money every two weeks to have acrylic nails on my hands.

I didn't wear them very long - I mean I needed to be practical.

But having a little length on my nails helped me feel like my hands weren't quite so stubby.

Then one day - I realized I was wasting my money.

I would get them all pretty and then go home and get them all covered in paint.

Not special.

So I stopped wearing them.

And I haven't had polish on them in a couple of years.

Until the other night.

My daughter is in cosmetology school.

She regularly needs models to perform her skills on.

She asked if I wanted to come in for a mani-pedi.

Yup!

You bet!

After all of the craziness going on - the idea of going downtown and being pampered for two hours was quite enticing.

I walked in with paint in my cuticles and under my nails and uneven, messy toes.

I was tortured for 2 hours with foot and hand massages, warm towels, relaxing aromatherapy oils, silky lotions and red polish.

Not just red - shiny, candied apple red.

I didn't get to choose the color - it was required for her "test".

Red is pretty unforgiving and the instructor can easily see the flaws.

And you know . . .

someone needed to be the model.

And after all - a mother makes these kinds of sacrifices for her daughter.

Poor me.

Matching toes and fingers.

And me - relaxed and pampered.

And this girl . . .

got 100% on her final grade.

And we got to talk and laugh and enjoy each other's company.

And she made this momma very proud.

And maybe I can keep them looking good for a few days.

But I'm not making any promises.