I've always been very ashamed of my feet. And when the pedicure is getting old and chipped, they could easily be cast in a horror movie as the Neglected Feet of some dead person...So after the umpteenth yoga classes where I stared at my hideous feet from Downward Dog, I decided it was time to get a pedicure.

I picked out a light shade of pink and sat down to soak my feet. When my pedicurist began taking the polish off my feet, she laughed and said something to the other pedicurist. As usual, I was positive that they were taking advantage of the fact that Vietnamese is not a language taught in American schools to jest to each other about my hideous feet. My knowledge of Asian languages is so limited that they could have been talking about Roe v. Wade, but I was certain that they were saying:

"Well, Vo, you certainly have got your work cut out for you there!"

"Oh, this is nothing. Remember that hippy who hadn't worn shoes for a year?! That was bad! Although, this is pretty close..."

Interestingly, the woman sitting next to me hadn't shaved her legs in about a month. Apparently, well manicured hands and feet are higher up on the beauty standard hierarchy of priorities. For me, well groomed eyebrows take precedence over a pedicure or manicure. For another, botox might take precedence over basic hygiene. To each, their own.

At one point, one of the pedicurists started speaking in English about a man she had seen that morning who walked as if he were dancing a Fosse number. She imitated his walk and we all laughed...That is, except for Unshaven Legs, who stared at the wall and occasionally jotted things down in her notebook. I guess life is very serious when you get pedicures and don't shave your legs. "Let Vietnamese pedicurists laugh at the absurdity of life...not me...I am busy writing about spirituality and relationships (I know she was writing about those things because I peeked at her notebook)." I got out my notebook and wrote a note for this blog about the woman writing in her notebook. (I think writers are allowed to be nosy about others who carry notebooks...but the truth is, I didn't see that much. Maybe she was writing about her gloriously shaven legs?)

It was fun hanging out at the nail salon, until someone decided to choose their cell phone ringer and all quiet was brought to an end. Then it was times for my nails to be dry.

Just for today, my feet look presentable.