Nails, Beautiful Nails
For a granddaughter's eleventh birthday - the tales
When my granddaughter told me and her mother that she wanted her nails done for her birthday, I thought she was talking press-on nails, as she had worked for and bought with her money just a few weeks before. That is not what she meant for her birthday.
Her mother tried to make an appointment before we took her to her uncle's house for the fourth of July weekend. She was not able to schedule an appointment until after that trip. So we checked with her auntie and she scheduled an appointment for me and the girls.
The birthday girl wanted extensions for her nails when we visited the nail salon. I had noticed that one color was not the fashion, like it was in my day, but rather a different color on every finger. And an added design. She brought a photo with her to show the nail person.
So it became "Well, that will be extra," then, "...and that is bringing your total up to 95 dollars." Do the nails below look like $95 nails? No? Well, good as they were only $85 nails.
Then she turned down the shoulder and back rub, which was my favorite part of the whole nails trip. JK. Hanging out with my two granddaughters was fun.

I didn't get a photo of our nails until ten days after we had them done, so the youngest (Julianna's painted nails) had some of the bright color missing from her nails.
I had to get a few nails fixed as I had breaks, so I went shorter than previously with my nails. And the girls picked my color. One nail was hanging by a thread and was cut off, while two had cracks and could not be cut off, so they were covered over.
I was told it may be possible to cut them off next time. I wasn't sure there would be a next time. Maybe if there was a wedding or other formal event I may get them fixed again. Two of our sons are engaged, and a granddaughter has a wedding date set for a year away.
I am looking forward to weddings as I go to way too many funerals. I guess it is common at my age.
My granddaughter Julianna is an only child and has had her nails done before. She was great, sat perfectly still, and looked at my phone while waiting for Brynn and me to be finished.

Excuse the photo, as it wasn't coming through well, and it required me to download a program I was not willing to download to clear it up, so a poor quality photo is what I got here, but it gives you an idea of what she selected. She was done first and was extremely patient in waiting for us.

The color is more of a pink hue in the picture, but more maroon, really. The girls picked out a more purple color, which I thought I would love as purple is my favorite color, and it didn't work out that way. Maybe next time.
My favorite thing about my manicure was the shoulder rub and back massage while waiting for my fingers to dry. The gal had strong hands and I loved the massage. It felt like I should schedule a massage next. I have had my nails done three times now, beginning with a manicure in Texas.
That manicure was on May 24, 2025. I guess one manicure a month isn't too bad. If I keep working part-time, I should be able to afford them. Self care is important for when the hubby goes up on the roof for sure and I'm sure other things will come up too.
About the Creator
Denise E Lindquist
Retired, working part-time as a Native American culture consultant. I have an MSE, and an ABD. I write on Vocal, and Facebook. Poetry, non-fiction mostly, and working on fiction. Wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.
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