Ode to Toes
I first went to get a pedicure last summer. I've had one at least once before that, but the time I'm refering to here was the first time I went to get this pedicure. I was feeling stressed, Eric was going to be a work for quite a while, and I wanted to do something relaxing for me. So, I went to a relatively inexpensive nail salon near Eric's work and got a pedicure. After soaking, grooming, and massaging my feet and painting my toenails, the pedicurist asked if I wanted flowers painted on my big toes. And it ocurred to me that of course I wanted flowers painted on my toenails. So, I agreed to pay the $4 extra, and she went ahead. They were awsome, and it was clear to me that this whole pedicure thing is what I'd been missing in life. After that, I went back every two to three weeks last summer. I've gone less over the winter, but will soon resume the summer schedule.
At this point, I am a regular. I have started calling in advance so that I can be assured of getting my favorite pedicurist, the same one in fact, as that first time. It's kind of an odd relationship when considered objectively. We don't know each other's last names, we know nothing about one another, for that matter, we don't really speak the same language (her English is fine for basic communications, but sometimes when we chat a little, I can tell that she doesn't really understand me), but I call up especially so that she, and she only, can mess with my feet. Part of the reason that I do that is because she is more caring than some of the other women there. It obviously pleases her that I enjoy her work. Not just in a repeat customer way, but in a "I've made someone's life nicer today" way. So, I want to reciprocate that with loyalty because its the only way that I can express the personal side of this transaction. In terms of commerce, I've gotten pretty feet and she's gotten her wages plus a good tip, but the relaxation and satisfaction I derive from it is more than that, so I want to give back more as well. Then, I step back and think about that, and it seems awfully personal and melodramatic considering we're talking about a pedicure.
At this point, I am a regular. I have started calling in advance so that I can be assured of getting my favorite pedicurist, the same one in fact, as that first time. It's kind of an odd relationship when considered objectively. We don't know each other's last names, we know nothing about one another, for that matter, we don't really speak the same language (her English is fine for basic communications, but sometimes when we chat a little, I can tell that she doesn't really understand me), but I call up especially so that she, and she only, can mess with my feet. Part of the reason that I do that is because she is more caring than some of the other women there. It obviously pleases her that I enjoy her work. Not just in a repeat customer way, but in a "I've made someone's life nicer today" way. So, I want to reciprocate that with loyalty because its the only way that I can express the personal side of this transaction. In terms of commerce, I've gotten pretty feet and she's gotten her wages plus a good tip, but the relaxation and satisfaction I derive from it is more than that, so I want to give back more as well. Then, I step back and think about that, and it seems awfully personal and melodramatic considering we're talking about a pedicure.