No, the photo above is not of the brave old broad who sat in the chair next to mine at Lily Nails in downtown Petaluma late Monday afternoon. Though remarkably preserved, I thought she might take slight umbrage at me whipping out my camera for a quick shot of her knobbly toes as they were painted bright red with a white daisy detail!
For this was her first ever pedicure, as she proudly proclaimed. Having grown up a farm girl in the Mid-West and transplanted here in Petaluma by family members following the demise of her ninety-something-year-old husband, the soon-to-be-92-year old and mother of four daughters (no doubt in their late 60's and 70's themselves) claimed she'd never had time for such blatant pampering in the past.
Not sure whether to accept the invitation for a floral decoration to top her ruby toes, she gamely went along with whatever was on offer after a nod from her companion on this novel 90 degree day-out!
Don't think the nail technicians understood her entertaining stories of how she'd helped her dear, long-departed Daddy haul hay on his 77 acre farm, but it made my day to see a person with such history put aside her stubborn ways and throw a little caution to the wind.
"I cut and styled her hair last week," said her companion. "Quite what we will think of for next week, I'm not too sure."
Moral of the story? Never say never. Depression-era farm girl to spa Princess. And why not? She most certainly earned it!
Thanks for this story! I really needed it!!
Posted by: Frank Simpson | Tuesday, June 29, 2025 at 10:45 AM
You are welcome, Frank, ever indulged in a pedicure yourself? Might be a fun outing with the members of the Instituto! Ha ha!Floral embellishments are entirely optional....
Posted by: Frances | Tuesday, June 29, 2025 at 02:09 PM