Next, a Pedicure...

I promised a picture of my new manicure...and this is the best my camera can do.  It's much shorter than before, conservative, definitely pink, but not overly so, and clean, shiny and professional.  Since our neighbor ladies go there, some of whom know my real gender, I can't make them too feminine.  (I haven't transitioned.)   And best of all, when I got home, my wife didn't complain about my nails. 

Since my pedicure was as old as my fill, the next day I stopped in, to see if they could do a fresh one for me.  I was addressed as "Ma'am," and they gave me a time to come back.  One of the guys from way down the street (whom I didn't recognize) was sitting in the corner waiting for his wife, and looked up, saying "Hi" just before I left.   He clearly could hear the "Ma'am's" identifying me, and the fact I didn't dispute it.  Of course, I responded "Hi" back to him, and then it was time to leave.  If the subject of my nails was a major secret before, it certainly isn't any more!  I'm just not sure how talkative he is on the street...guess time will tell.

When I arrived back at the salon at the appointed time, I was addressed as "Ma'am" and seated in the pedicure chair within 5 minutes (fewer patrons than earlier.)  The tech who did my fingers picked out the pink color so my toes would match my fingers, and a different tech went ahead with my pedi.  It was very relaxing, more so than at the other salon.  Their leg massage was particularly nice...all the way up to my knees.  But I made the decision to go with a regular pedicure, not shellac like at the other salon.

Two other ladies were getting pedicures beside me, and they included me in discussion of girly topics ranging from shaving our legs, wardrobe-changing time (I still had my stirrups on - they made me promise I'd switch to my capris for summer, like they were both wearing), summer pedicures and sandals (they both were getting bright colors and thought I should be wearing red or hot pink) and housekeeping, to summer plans.   I was able to discuss all of them, and there was no indication whatsoever that they thought I was anything except female.  (For any doubters, even with my voice issue!)

My pedicure was less expensive than ones at the other salon, even taking into account the former shellac issue.  As long as it turns out to be their regular (not introductory) pricing, I'll save money.  Why should I "not" change salons?  The only thing I won't ask them to do is apply or remove bright colors.  I'm not ready to "out" myself that blatantly at home and on my street. There are other area shops which can do that for me anonymously when necessary...

At the end of the pedicure, they put some floppy pedicure "sandals" on me, and left the toe separators in place.  I was put under the drying table and after 10 minutes I heard "Ma'am, be sure to leave those all on for the next half hour...so you don't smudge your polish."  Oops...I still had to get gas and go to the post office.  Well, girls get pedicures all the time...and I'm a girl, so...no need to be embarrassed.  And my pedi partners, who also were getting manicures, said "see you around town!"

As I walked out the nail salon door on the way back to my car, two gabby teens walked toward me, so I stopped.  They walked right in front of me.  I expected the worst, but they simply looked down at my pedicured feet, never looking up at the rest of me... and went right back to their conversation.  I got in the car and drove to the post office, where the same thing happened with two female and two male adults.   Apparently walking around town in pedicure sandals with toe separators in place screams "woman," and nobody looks any further...it was fun.

A picture of the finished product...bland, but the good news is...no issues whatsoever from my wife.  Maybe next time, one shade darker pink and another stop at the post office?

The receptionist at our tax preparer's office apparently has been interpreting me as female for the past couple of years, but until now, I didn't know it.  When I left a message this morning with a question and my name, she called back promptly with the answer.  "Is this Ms. Sherman?"  I knew my wife hadn't called so I answered "Yes it is." And she answered my question, ending with "Thanks for calling, Ma'am.  See you next tax season."  And I replied, "You're welcome, Ma'am, yes you will." 

All in my normal voice.  Hmmm...

More later,

Mandy