12/07: Not Just Any French Manicure
Sleek, thin white lines elegantly painted across the tip of each nail - I think that is why I have always wanted a French manicure. Last winter, I was in a shopping mall when I noticed the sign beckoning to me - Manicures Here, No Appointment Needed.
I took a deep breath, headed inside, and told myself that I was entitled to a little pampering in the form of a French manicure. I was escorted to the back of the small salon and introduced to Lien, the manicurist. She was working on another customer, but informed me of the routine, the price, and that the entire manicure process wouldn't take more than 20 minutes. Lien escorted me to a seat and I began with the obligatory soaking of the fingers in the dish of Palmolive-like liquid.
At first, Lien made small talk, but quickly moved on to the story of her life: to date, four husbands, all allegedly deceased. She married husband #1 when she was only 14 as a way to escape Vietnam. She had 12 children and 30 grandchildren. I commented, sincerely, on how well she looked for her age. You would never think the woman in 4-inch heels, snazzy outfit, jet black hair, and very red lipstick was 79 years old! I asked her for her secret expecting an answer related to clean living or a vegetarian diet. To my surprise, Lien informed me that her secret was "young boyfriend!" She then went into a 45 minute tale of how she met her 28 year old boyfriend, how she kept him happy, and also how many times she had to call the cops on him. I sat amazed at what I was hearing. All of the while, Lien never skipped a beat during the filing, painting, polishing, and drying and continued telling her story of survival using cunning and feminine charms to get her man, her salon, and her diamonds - proudly displayed on her neck, wrists and most of her fingers.
When it cam time to paint the white strip, Lien did so with incredible dexterity. I couldn't believe my eyes that this woman, almost 80, was so talented. After the white strip was applied, I thought that I was finished. But, Lien explained to me that it looked "too boring" and insisted that, at no cost to me, she would snaz it up. She took a brush, thin with black paint, and added strokes resembling eyelashes to each of the white lines. Then, to make it complete, she added a splash of gold for emphasis!
Although I really just wanted that simple white stripe, I didn't have the heart to tell Lien that I thought her design was little over the top for me! I paid her, gave her a nice tip, and told her that I would see her again. Although I pass the shop every now and then, I have not returned. How could I possibly top that manicure and the 2 hours worth of stories that came with it! One day, maybe, I will get the French manicure that I hoped for - simple and elegant!
I took a deep breath, headed inside, and told myself that I was entitled to a little pampering in the form of a French manicure. I was escorted to the back of the small salon and introduced to Lien, the manicurist. She was working on another customer, but informed me of the routine, the price, and that the entire manicure process wouldn't take more than 20 minutes. Lien escorted me to a seat and I began with the obligatory soaking of the fingers in the dish of Palmolive-like liquid.
At first, Lien made small talk, but quickly moved on to the story of her life: to date, four husbands, all allegedly deceased. She married husband #1 when she was only 14 as a way to escape Vietnam. She had 12 children and 30 grandchildren. I commented, sincerely, on how well she looked for her age. You would never think the woman in 4-inch heels, snazzy outfit, jet black hair, and very red lipstick was 79 years old! I asked her for her secret expecting an answer related to clean living or a vegetarian diet. To my surprise, Lien informed me that her secret was "young boyfriend!" She then went into a 45 minute tale of how she met her 28 year old boyfriend, how she kept him happy, and also how many times she had to call the cops on him. I sat amazed at what I was hearing. All of the while, Lien never skipped a beat during the filing, painting, polishing, and drying and continued telling her story of survival using cunning and feminine charms to get her man, her salon, and her diamonds - proudly displayed on her neck, wrists and most of her fingers.
When it cam time to paint the white strip, Lien did so with incredible dexterity. I couldn't believe my eyes that this woman, almost 80, was so talented. After the white strip was applied, I thought that I was finished. But, Lien explained to me that it looked "too boring" and insisted that, at no cost to me, she would snaz it up. She took a brush, thin with black paint, and added strokes resembling eyelashes to each of the white lines. Then, to make it complete, she added a splash of gold for emphasis!
Although I really just wanted that simple white stripe, I didn't have the heart to tell Lien that I thought her design was little over the top for me! I paid her, gave her a nice tip, and told her that I would see her again. Although I pass the shop every now and then, I have not returned. How could I possibly top that manicure and the 2 hours worth of stories that came with it! One day, maybe, I will get the French manicure that I hoped for - simple and elegant!
12/02: Not Just Any French Manicure
Not Just Any French Manicure
Sleek, thin white lines elegantly painted across the tip of each nail - I think that is why I have always wanted a French manicure. Last winter, I was in a shopping mall when I noticed the sign beckoning to me - Manicures Here, No Appointment Needed.
I took a deep breath, headed inside, and told myself that I was entitled to a little pampering in the form of a French manicure. I was escorted to the back of the small salon and introduced to Lien, the manicurist. She was working on another customer, but informed me of the routine, the price, and that the entire manicure process wouldn't take more than 20 minutes. Lien escorted me to a seat and I began with the obligatory soaking of the fingers in the dish of Palmolive-like liquid.
At first, Lien made small talk, but quickly moved on to the story of her life: to date, four husbands, all allegedly deceased. She married husband #1 when she was only 14 as a way to escape Vietnam. She had 12 children and 30 grandchildren. I commented, sincerely, on how well she looked for her age. You would never think the woman in 4-inch heels, snazzy outfit, jet black hair, and very red lipstick was 79 years old! I asked her for her secret expecting an answer related to clean living or a vegetarian diet. To my surprise, Lien informed me that her secret was "young boyfriend!" She then went into a 45 minute tale of how she met her 28 year old boyfriend, how she kept him happy, and also how many times she had to call the cops on him. I sat amazed at what I was hearing. All of the while, Lien never skipped a beat during the filing, painting, polishing, and drying and continued telling her story of survival using cunning and feminine charms to get her man, her salon, and her diamonds - proudly displayed on her neck, wrists and most of her fingers.
When it cam time to paint the white strip, Lien did so with incredible dexterity. I couldn't believe my eyes that this woman, almost 80, was so talented. After the white strip was applied, I thought that I was finished. But, Lien explained to me that it looked "too boring" and insisted that, at no cost to me, she would snaz it up. She took a brush, thin with black paint, and added strokes resembling eyelashes to each of the white lines. Then, to make it complete, she added a splash of gold for emphasis!
Although I really just wanted that simple white stripe, I didn't have the heart to tell Lien that I thought her design was little over the top for me! I paid her, gave her a nice tip, and told her that I would see her again. Although I pass the shop every now and then, I have not returned. How could I possibly top that manicure and the 2 hours worth of stories that came with it! One day, maybe, I will get the French manicure that I hoped for - simple and elegant!
Sleek, thin white lines elegantly painted across the tip of each nail - I think that is why I have always wanted a French manicure. Last winter, I was in a shopping mall when I noticed the sign beckoning to me - Manicures Here, No Appointment Needed.
I took a deep breath, headed inside, and told myself that I was entitled to a little pampering in the form of a French manicure. I was escorted to the back of the small salon and introduced to Lien, the manicurist. She was working on another customer, but informed me of the routine, the price, and that the entire manicure process wouldn't take more than 20 minutes. Lien escorted me to a seat and I began with the obligatory soaking of the fingers in the dish of Palmolive-like liquid.
At first, Lien made small talk, but quickly moved on to the story of her life: to date, four husbands, all allegedly deceased. She married husband #1 when she was only 14 as a way to escape Vietnam. She had 12 children and 30 grandchildren. I commented, sincerely, on how well she looked for her age. You would never think the woman in 4-inch heels, snazzy outfit, jet black hair, and very red lipstick was 79 years old! I asked her for her secret expecting an answer related to clean living or a vegetarian diet. To my surprise, Lien informed me that her secret was "young boyfriend!" She then went into a 45 minute tale of how she met her 28 year old boyfriend, how she kept him happy, and also how many times she had to call the cops on him. I sat amazed at what I was hearing. All of the while, Lien never skipped a beat during the filing, painting, polishing, and drying and continued telling her story of survival using cunning and feminine charms to get her man, her salon, and her diamonds - proudly displayed on her neck, wrists and most of her fingers.
When it cam time to paint the white strip, Lien did so with incredible dexterity. I couldn't believe my eyes that this woman, almost 80, was so talented. After the white strip was applied, I thought that I was finished. But, Lien explained to me that it looked "too boring" and insisted that, at no cost to me, she would snaz it up. She took a brush, thin with black paint, and added strokes resembling eyelashes to each of the white lines. Then, to make it complete, she added a splash of gold for emphasis!
Although I really just wanted that simple white stripe, I didn't have the heart to tell Lien that I thought her design was little over the top for me! I paid her, gave her a nice tip, and told her that I would see her again. Although I pass the shop every now and then, I have not returned. How could I possibly top that manicure and the 2 hours worth of stories that came with it! One day, maybe, I will get the French manicure that I hoped for - simple and elegant!