My life-changing experience

As you can see, the title of this post is "my life-changing experience". It won't seem like much to most of you when I tell you what it is...but believe me, it has really changed my life big-time!

What is it? you say. Well, my mother decided that she wanted to see me with nails before she shuffles off this mortal coil, so she paid for me to have fake nails put on until mine grow out. Those of you who know me know I have NEVER, EVER, EVER in my life EVER had fingernails! I have bitten my nails since I was old enough to have teeth!! I can remember being 4 years old and my friend's mother bribing me with painting my nails if I'd stop! I can remember having "Thumb", a noxious substance, painted on my nails so I wouldn't bite. Did it work? Temporarily....but then I'd be right back at it, the stuff wore off, and my poor mom just gave up and let me have at it.

Soooo...off I go to a Vietnamese establishment in Rocky Mount on Tuesday to have it done. I'll admit I was a little nervous, since I REALLY rely on being able to bite, just a little, and knew I wouldn't be able to at all! The lady put these horrendous-looking long talons on each nail at the tip, then, thank goodness, cut most of them off, shaped, ground, shaped, ground...you get the picture. The weirdest part was when she was through with me, she hadn't polished my nails yet and they looked not that great - but then, this regular white guy who looked like he should be working in Kroger's painted my nails!! HA! He actually gave me the "French" nail look (white tips, clear everywhere else) and painted my nails carefully. What a surreal experience!!

Supposedly, these things last about 3 weeks and then I have to go in again for more work. I'll probably stretch mine out a little longer since I don't intend to spend tons of money on my nails. They look pretty good - but then, a 3rd-grade boy at school asked me if my nails were fake, so I guess they're not fool-proof!! HA! Some of the little girls said they liked them. Carrie hates them - she said she wants my stubby fingers back! Oh well, she'll get used to them, and hopefully in the next few months or so I'll have my own nails and won't have to resort to fake tips.

As you can imagine, not being able to bite my nails has been quite a challenge. Also, I can feel every single separate nail on every finger...and as I type this, my fingers are making clacking noises which I suppose I'll get used to. They also clack when I play piano! I'm having to relearn how to do some things, like picking up pencils or small objects, because I had adapted to doing so without nails!

So - while this wouldn't impact most people, it has had a profound impact on my life! I have to say, I kinda like 'em and hopefully will unlearn biting my nails so I can carry on with my own in the near future.

Fascinating post, huh??? Are you happy now, oh-daughter-who's-been-bugging-me-to-post?