April Fools Day

If you would have told me that I would be doing this sort of thing 10 years ago, I would have told you that you didn’t know anything you were talking about.  However, due to two wonderful ladies, I now have had another first experience.  Their trust and forward awareness have brought me closer to yet another group of people that otherwise, I would not have had the opportunity to meet.

Let me explain.  Several years ago my male counterpart wondered into a small, full, well lit resale shop in Jefferson City.  As is customary, I tried to not be noticed as I looked through the ladies jackets, skirts and tops.  I wasn’t there long before I knew that I would be back on a regular basis. 

The owner, Vickie and her daughter Nicole made me feel very welcome and I finally just told them about Tess.  They were not surprised and seemed pleased that I trusted them with the information.  Over the last few years, my male counterpart has purchase many an item there, even with my wife in tow several times, but had never had the opportunity to shop with them while dressed.

Last month on one of my working trips through town, I notice a sign in the window, “Moving Sale”.  Oh my word!  I had to stop and see where they were moving too as I had not stopped in for quite some time and this took me by surprise.  Nicole started to tell me about the new building and the 10th year anniversary party that would be happening on April 1st.  She informed me of the cake, punch and other free offerings that had been made available to customers each year.

After some thought that day, I called back and told Vickie of my idea.  “I would love to make myself available to buff and polish nails during your grand opening if you would find it appropriate”.   And as they say, the rest is now history.

During the last month of preparation, I did have a bit of a panic attack over this.  Here are two ladies that are counting on me to help with this opening, quite an honor and a responsibility as well.  In my efforts to prepare, I was able to work with my sisters at St.LGF the weekend before.  I was put behind the bar at the meeting place and as the gals came up, chose a color, put their hands on the counter and we chatted as the color went on.  Once, there were four gals at the bar with their nails in different stages of being finished.

April 1st, I’m driving to Jeff City wondering if any lady coming to the shop today might have an idea of the “April Fools” prank that Vickie and Nicole are going to have in store for them. 

Sharon arrived shortly after I did and we set up.  She was to run the “Paraffin Hand Treatments” while I did the nail color.  First things first, she had never had experienced this treatment and the best way to tell her what she would be doing was to do hers first. 

After this, there was no stopping her.  She stayed busy all day, chasing after gals wondering through the racks as she called out, “Has anyone seen the lady with the bunny mitts?”  The chair never had a chance to cool down as one after another took time to get their hands dipped.  Sharon found out that just because you might have been born a woman, does not mean that you have experienced all the pampering offered to women.  I simply love the way that Sharon and I have come to enjoy each other.  Many times throughout the day several women made comments about our long time friendship and how only real friends can have that much insight into the other.  We did not really know just what was going to happen.  As we always do, we just went with the flow.

It bears notice that despite who we are they found the situation comfortable enough to enjoy their time with us.  Many times I would look up and see someone taking measure of the room and wait patiently till they were next, laughing the whole time with us.  Some took the time to sit, relax and enjoy the attention while others just had to have another bit of cake.

Do you think that we were having fun or what?  As I sit here putting this together I can’t help but smile and laugh again at the energy that filled the room.  From behind the nails, I watched as it drew person after person into the room.  Of course the ladies walking around with the bunny mitts on didn’t hurt the flow of traffic.  They just had to see what was going on.  Sharon, what a great idea you had!!

We had the opportunity to share our space in the “Bridal/Formal” area with the Avon lady.  I don’t think she ever laughed so long in her life.  She was wonderful and joined in with the two of us in our play with the customers.  At times, we had the customers joining in on the bantering fun.  I only wish that I had been able to look up more often to see the if the expressions that I heard matched the faces.  As she was working with their face makeup, I know that she had to stop more than once when someone would fall off the stool they were sitting on. 

I had tried to prepare for every possible set of nails that I thought would be placed before me.  One of the first ladies had never before had someone else do her nails.  Oh my word!  I was glad that I had brought the different buffing blocks and files.  I simply replied, “Thank you for letting me be the first”, and went to work.   One lady was sorry that she couldn’t bend her fingers to make it easier as her arthritis wouldn’t let her.  There was the lady that worked in the “House” followed by a wonderful gal that worked in the “Senate”, as many of the ladies worked in some area of the State government as we were in the state capitol.  Both of these gals simply did not meet the forgone conclusion of what the women in government acted like.

Mike came by and dropped of some nail color.  I had to put on a coat of the Chrome myself.  Within the next hour a mother and daughter had metallic nails from the colors he had brought in.

One after another they keep my chair busy too.  Finally at 1:30, I took a few bites of the BBQ that Mike had gotten for us.  Nicole and Vicki both came by and told me to stop and eat.  I did.  A few bites later we were back working with the next set of nails waiting.  She had been sooooo patient.  It was at this point were I was eating in front of 6 ladies in the room, and three of them were waiting on me.  I realized that it wasn’t all that long ago that I had this “center of attention” feeling, however I wasn’t perched on platform boots getting ready to run…but that’s another story.

As the afternoon went on, I listened to conversations, had some of my own, and joined in on others.  The positive energy that was flowing in the room and out into the upper floor was great.  From time to time, ladies that had been with us would stop at the top of the stairs and make comments or just watch.  It was great to see and feel that my concerns, of how we would be accepted in a town of government, were only that; just my concerns.

I had noticed a lady with her young daughter looking at the articles on the Avon table and browsing through the items on the racks.  She seemed to be watching me and the ladies we were working with.  She then had me work on her nails and we had good conversation.  When she got up she turned to her daughter and said, “Your turn.  Get right up here and she’ll do your nails”.  This was the one I hadn’t prepared for.  She was very quite, but very attentive.  She was 6 years old and in kindergarten.  I told her that she was very good to be so still while I worked with my file on her little nails.  “She is every bit a little girl”, her mom said.  She smiled most of the time and never once pulled her hands away.  It was and still is a wonderful feeling that this mother/daughter pair felt comfortable enough to let me share in their lives.  I don’t think I will ever forget the feelings I experienced at that time.

Still working through those feelings, I looked up to find that Mike had brought his granddaughter down to have her nails done.  She was wonderful and talked the whole time.  She was a gal that knew what she wanted.  She liked the alpaca that I had on my little finger and when we had the red on her nails I pulled out the bottle of fun stuff.  She spied the “eyes” quickly and wanted the set on her right thumbnail.  After some work, we had them on and she wanted them to have a smile too.

She had made note of my nails, wanting to know if she could have them put on her too.  I told her that she would have the chance to wear them soon enough, but not today….and I have a feeling that this young lady will!   I gave her one out of my jar.  After thanking me for her nail and the smiley face, she went up the stairs as fast as she could.   A few minutes later, Mike was back telling us she was waving around her thumb showing it to everyone.  I smiled from the inside out.  Now that is life!  How wonderful it is to share with others. 

This day I was out on my first job, yes these brave souls provided me with yet another first.  I have been told that Tess was going to have to go to work to pay for all her makeup and shoes.  When I came home and told her this, she simply said, “It’s about time”.

After a long day, Vickie came by and I did get some polish on her nails.  She brought me a bottle of pink champagne to take home and we posed for some pictures before Sharon and I went to Madison’s for dinner.

Tired and sore, we both headed off to bed around midnight after a couple hours of conversation about the day.  Today, we picked up where we left off last night until she had to go home. 

As I have sat here putting these thoughts and feelings on paper, I have had to use a tissue more than once.  I have never been able to let myself feel like this before and it is great. 

Just how many of those ladies from yesterday thought about me today, I don’t know.  I just know that I will remember a number of them for some time to come.  I took a tour of the capital once with a group, the first time Tess was in Jefferson City.  I wonder what the next outing in Jeff City will be.  I do know this; I know a few new people that I can call when I come to town.

If you are ever in the area, stop by and see these two gorgeous ladies and tell them “Tess sent me”.  You’ll have the time of your life and leave with some new clothes too.

Repeat Performance

612 Washington

Jefferson City, MO  65101

573-634-7736

“Attitude, it’s the small thing that makes a big difference”….

Tess the Katt