Friday, May 2, 2014
I took my daughter (who is graduating from college tonight) to get a well-earned manicure and pedicure last night. We had to go to a different place than usual because where we usually go was closed due to tornado damage in Vilonia this past Sunday. We like going to our 'regular' salon in our small community because they have gotten to know us over the past few years - and we them. We are use to the small salon owners (husband and wife team) talking to one another in their own particular language. It's annoying at times - but it's usually that way every where I've ever been in the past 25 yrs that I have been getting manis and pedis. I generally just enjoying talking to my dgt or my sister, whomever may be with me at the time. If I'm alone, I tune out everything and try to zone out of the world for those precious few minutes. I value that time. No such luck today. Maybe I'm being overly sensitive because of the tornado that ravaged two small towns in our county last Sunday night - coming within a half mile of the land we call home - and many of our friends and neighbors having lost everything but their lives. And lives were lost, todays count stands at 15. Maybe it was the stress, angst, and worrying about my 85 y/o mother who recently moved from my hometown - closer to her 3 children - but AWAY from the only place she's ever lived - and - away from relatives, her church family and away from her sweetheart. So...Yes, perhaps I may be stressed out and overwhelmed with parts of my life right now. Maybe it's the cumulative effect of a lot of stressful things. Even so, what I witnessed today at this salon blew my ever-lovin mind! Frankly, it's always rubbed me the wrong way how one can be 'mistreated' at such establishments. For example, if (for whatever reason) I found it necessary to visit 'another' salon - my old salon ALWAYS knows about it! I can't count the times I've been 'scolded' at the appearance of my nails - pouncing on me practically before I can get comfortable in the chair! "Tssk...Tsssk WHERE have YOU BEEN?" Picking up each finger one by one inspecting each one meticulously - as if they were delicacies about to be eaten! I have been 'scolded', chastised, and even yelled at one time and with a shakin finger in my face to boot) about the horrid condition of my nails. And honest, folks - they've never looked THAT bad. I swear! I've never gone longer than a month without getting my nails done in the last 20+ years. Even when I was in the hospital, my sweet manicurist visited me there! Usually, I take my punishment, look up at the (clearly angry) worker with puppy dog eyes and give them a lil pouty lip, suck it up and move on. My goodness, you'd think I'd broken some unwritten 'nail abuse' law the way they carry on sometimes. The truth is - their behavior irritates me. Afterall, I am paying them good hard earned money for a service rendered and I don't really appreciate getting bawled out. But today crossed the line - things went too far. Hit.A.Raw.Nerve - IMean. Ok ok...here's what happened. The pedis were pretty much uneventful 'cept for my dgts cute twists and turns in her chair as she is extremely ticklish. But when we separated for the manicures - things got dicey, at least for me. The manicurist started in on me. I thought here we go again - no matter where I go - some things never change. Once again, each finger was inspected. OneByOne. "Where did you have these done? Look how thick they are? This is bad, very very bad. They don't look natural. I know you didn't get them done here, we don't do 'sloppy work' like this!" I proceeded to tell her where I usually go and that the business had suffered damage from the tornado. "Tskk...Tskkk...." She shook her head and then started speaking in another language and got the entire shop in an uproar and they went on and on back and forth for a good 20 minutes. Here's where it gets dicey and down right rude. The other workers suddenly stopped what they were doing (I guess she 'summoned' them over) and began to parade around one by one to take turns inspecting my fingers. They then started snickering and even laughing out loud. I could understand the word, "Vilonia", enough to realize they were snickering and making puns about our town. Not only did I find that behavior offensive but distasteful and cruel. To make a long story short - I will never be visiting that salon again and told them as much. There's a time and place for most things in life and I realize different cultures have differing norrms and values. But again, this was just plain wrong. Kindness and compassion should be universal and I'm saddened to say - it is NOT. They were in the wrong here and I've decided I WILL NOT TOLERATE being treated like this EVER again. Not at my regular salon or any other. But maybe I'm being too sensitive? I think NOT.
I took my daughter (who is graduating from college tonight) to get a well-earned manicure and pedicure last night. We had to go to a different place than usual because where we usually go was closed due to tornado damage in Vilonia this past Sunday. We like going to our 'regular' salon in our small community because they have gotten to know us over the past few years - and we them. We are use to the small salon owners (husband and wife team) talking to one another in their own particular language. It's annoying at times - but it's usually that way every where I've ever been in the past 25 yrs that I have been getting manis and pedis. I generally just enjoying talking to my dgt or my sister, whomever may be with me at the time. If I'm alone, I tune out everything and try to zone out of the world for those precious few minutes. I value that time. No such luck today. Maybe I'm being overly sensitive because of the tornado that ravaged two small towns in our county last Sunday night - coming within a half mile of the land we call home - and many of our friends and neighbors having lost everything but their lives. And lives were lost, todays count stands at 15. Maybe it was the stress, angst, and worrying about my 85 y/o mother who recently moved from my hometown - closer to her 3 children - but AWAY from the only place she's ever lived - and - away from relatives, her church family and away from her sweetheart. So...Yes, perhaps I may be stressed out and overwhelmed with parts of my life right now. Maybe it's the cumulative effect of a lot of stressful things. Even so, what I witnessed today at this salon blew my ever-lovin mind! Frankly, it's always rubbed me the wrong way how one can be 'mistreated' at such establishments. For example, if (for whatever reason) I found it necessary to visit 'another' salon - my old salon ALWAYS knows about it! I can't count the times I've been 'scolded' at the appearance of my nails - pouncing on me practically before I can get comfortable in the chair! "Tssk...Tsssk WHERE have YOU BEEN?" Picking up each finger one by one inspecting each one meticulously - as if they were delicacies about to be eaten! I have been 'scolded', chastised, and even yelled at one time and with a shakin finger in my face to boot) about the horrid condition of my nails. And honest, folks - they've never looked THAT bad. I swear! I've never gone longer than a month without getting my nails done in the last 20+ years. Even when I was in the hospital, my sweet manicurist visited me there! Usually, I take my punishment, look up at the (clearly angry) worker with puppy dog eyes and give them a lil pouty lip, suck it up and move on. My goodness, you'd think I'd broken some unwritten 'nail abuse' law the way they carry on sometimes. The truth is - their behavior irritates me. Afterall, I am paying them good hard earned money for a service rendered and I don't really appreciate getting bawled out. But today crossed the line - things went too far. Hit.A.Raw.Nerve - IMean. Ok ok...here's what happened. The pedis were pretty much uneventful 'cept for my dgts cute twists and turns in her chair as she is extremely ticklish. But when we separated for the manicures - things got dicey, at least for me. The manicurist started in on me. I thought here we go again - no matter where I go - some things never change. Once again, each finger was inspected. OneByOne. "Where did you have these done? Look how thick they are? This is bad, very very bad. They don't look natural. I know you didn't get them done here, we don't do 'sloppy work' like this!" I proceeded to tell her where I usually go and that the business had suffered damage from the tornado. "Tskk...Tskkk...." She shook her head and then started speaking in another language and got the entire shop in an uproar and they went on and on back and forth for a good 20 minutes. Here's where it gets dicey and down right rude. The other workers suddenly stopped what they were doing (I guess she 'summoned' them over) and began to parade around one by one to take turns inspecting my fingers. They then started snickering and even laughing out loud. I could understand the word, "Vilonia", enough to realize they were snickering and making puns about our town. Not only did I find that behavior offensive but distasteful and cruel. To make a long story short - I will never be visiting that salon again and told them as much. There's a time and place for most things in life and I realize different cultures have differing norrms and values. But again, this was just plain wrong. Kindness and compassion should be universal and I'm saddened to say - it is NOT. They were in the wrong here and I've decided I WILL NOT TOLERATE being treated like this EVER again. Not at my regular salon or any other. But maybe I'm being too sensitive? I think NOT.
