Their own American Gothic

Matty and Lara, originally uploaded by journeymama.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. We've reached that point in the Chinua is in Turkey show when our hostess loses her mind with grief over missing her Superstar Husband. In order to prevent such breakdowns as obsessive compulsive cleaning or skin peeling, she ventures into the wilds of a city known as Vank-oo-fer, determined to treat this great husband vacuum with a little time out in the city.

Yesterday Becca and I drove out with the kids to see my brother and future sister-in-law. We were only able to be there for part of a day, but managed to squeeze in lunch, park time, a pedicure, and dinner.

At the park we sat and talked, in between taking kids on rides on the zipline, a bit hit with Kid A and YaYa. I casually mentioned to my sister and my future sister-in-law that I've been wanting a pedicure for a really long time. "Obviously," I said as I stared glumly at my feet, "I need one." We all agreed. My feet were disgusting, callouses springing out everywhere, cuticles taking over. We ran to the nail salon, callouses forming even more strongly as we ran. [Read: we got in my van and drove to Little Vietnam.)

Uncle Matty (a.k.a. Uncle "Jesus" Matty) took the three kids out for ice cream (read: non-dairy [we hope] sorbet). All of us assumed that it would take, say... forty-five minutes or so. An hour-and-a-half later, we were still waiting to stick our feet in the bubbly water.

Can I just say that I don't think we were their regular type of customers? I mean, that's just what I was picking up, I'm not sure. As soon as we walked into the place I felt right at home, though, because it felt like any random shop in Thailand. The place was just radiating with Asian style. And then the appointment book was radiating with Asian style too, as they had scheduled six people for the same time slot, having only three pedicure chairs. It's like when you ask for directions in India. They feel rude saying they don't know, so they will make something up. I think these Vietnamese ladies would just have felt terrible turning anyone away.

But I stared at the toes of the lady next to me. She honestly looked as though she had come in just yesterday for a pedicure. I wanted to say, LOOK. Who's got more of an emergency situation going on here? She eyed me in return, looking at my hair distrustfully.

Thankfully for us, (and Uncle Jesus Matty) they set us up first. We were bathed and pumiced and sanded and surgically operated on, until our feet looked like baby feet, but with colorful toenails.

We walked on air on our way out, Uncle Matty had some "valuable" experience with taking care of three small children in a city, and all was well.

This wonderful photo is courtesy of a talented girl named Tif who did Matty and Lara's engagement photos.

Comments

[Cassandra]

I think you can see my e-mail address? Sounds wierd but we are between Vancouver and California (yes, I know a lot of stuff is) on Whidbey Island, let me know if you are coming down this way, we have pretty beaches and parks and fun kid stuff. Dread friendly.

[Rebeca]

What fun! My one-and-only pedicure experience was when I was a bridesmaid for a good friend who treated us all to a pedicure. So that we could have matching toenails- brown with little white flowers- for the wedding. I wore close-toed shoes, not thinking about what happened after the pedicure. They gave me a pair of foam sandal things to wear, which I had to wear for the next hour or so, accompanying all the other girls shopping or something. They seriously need instruction manuals for the non-initiated, so that we don't get humiliated in the process.

[carrien]

OHOHOHOH were you at that cute little playground two blocks east of Commercial drive? That was one of my kids favorite places to go when we lived there and if I remember right Matt is around there somewhere. I'm so jealous that you get to be in Vancouver right now, in the spring at the parks and restaurants and little Vietnam.

I'm glad someone is taking care of your feet.

[Jennifer]

The only manicure-pedicure experience I've ever had happened because a friend dragged me there. As the lady trimmed my cuticles, I had to remark to my pushy friend across the room that there was so much white stuff flying, it looked to be snowing in Florida! :-b

The other ladies DID all look like they were just in the week prior, though. I got distrustful looks from the beautiful people too. Guessing the *snow* comment and the loud snorting laughter that followed didn't help much. Needless to say I bought a pumice stone and have stayed away from beautiful people hangouts ever since.

Sounds like you're having big times with friends and family. Way better than experiencing the husband vacuum at home!

[Sara]

I laughed out loud at this one...and the comments too. Love your writing.