I CROSSED STATE LINES FOR A PEDICURE

COVID-19 pummeled my beauty routine. No haircut or blonde highlighting for months. No rejuvenating hydrating facials or white-tip French manicures either. Couldn’t get a Swedish massage, desperately needed a pedicure. 

Things were getting so rough around the edges here in Marier-ville that Mr. Wonderful was beginning to see what I actually look like.

Then dear pal Sandy Janes telephoned, gasping with excitement. “Val, OMG, we can get pedicures in Portsmouth!” she exclaimed. “Their salons are open. I’ll make us an appointment at Herbal Nails. Want to go?”

Off we went yesterday, driving south on the Maine Turnpike, swathed in  masks and gloves, blissfully oblivious to the steady rain pelting the windshield. As we crossed the big bridge over the Piscataqua River and passed the sign reading STATE LINE NEW HAMPSHIRE, nothing but energetic elbow bumps.

Between you, me and the lamppost, however, we didn’t exactly announce our destination to anyone. Not that we were doing anything “bad,” but we sure didn’t want to tell our our kids who might have summoned the National Guard to thwart us. “If it’s allowed in New Hampshire, and we live in the state next door, and we’ve quarantined and followed all the rules, and we’re masked and gloved, what’s wrong with our going now,” Sandy asked.  “Nothing!” I agreed.

Mr. Wonderful seemed perplexed at my glee. “What’s the big deal about getting your toes painted?” he asked. 

“What’s the joy in your buying another putter (or driver, or five hybrid, or wedge) when you’ve already got an arsenal in the basement?” Amazingly, my logic did not compute or take hold.

When we entered Herbal Nails, which looked immaculate, the owner asked, “Please wash hands in back sink.” Forty-five minutes later, filed and clipped and anointed and massaged, we stuck our feet in little fan machines to dry, Sandy’s toes deep red and mine hot pink. I looked out the front window and saw a car parked right in front bearing Maine plates. It wasn’t Sandy’s silver Lexus. “Hah!” I said. “We are not alone.”

Many important things in our lives have been put on hold by the virus and subsequent quarantine. Only four days ago I got to finally hug, really hug, my two New Hampshire grandkids, plus their mom and dad. First time since mid-January and it felt wonderful. 

We are beginning to ask friends to our house for drinks and nibbles — not hordes, just a couple or two. I’ve rescheduled dentist and eye doctor appointments which had been cancelled due to COVID. Life is beginning to resume normalcy.

Pedicures might not rate up there with seeing family and friends, or going to the dentist, but it felt pretty damn good. This morning Sandy texted: “My toes are happy!”

Mine too.