My life is happily full of things I’ve never done before, but I sure never expected to write the following words on my blog:

Maria and I each got pedicures for the first time in our lives, and we did it together at the Nightingale Nail Salon, a beautiful, clean nail parlor in Saratoga Springs.

There are very few things in life less likely to happen than for the two of us to get pedicures together and both paint our toenails.

While watching Maria get her toenails painted for the first time in her life, I decided to have my nails painted.

After all, who would see them? I asked the quite surprised but laughing pedicurist.

“Your podiatrist,” Maria shot back quickly. Well, I said, blushing momentarily, “but the nurses will have a lot of fun.”I have blue fingernails.

I don’t know exactly why I did it, but I loved doing it and was instantly glad. My feet feel appreciative, cared for, and very healthy. I see my toes in a whole new way.

My nails were trimmed in a very safe and careful way by a woman who really knew what she was doing. She had to instruct me with gestures, smiles, and taps since I had no idea what I was doing and she spoke almost no English.

Maria, who initially was horrified at the idea and rejected my invitation, gave in. She seemed in bliss to me, especially with the shoulder and foot massage.

This all began when a dozen or so of my blog readers cautioned me in no uncertain terms that a person with diabetes should never get a pedicure at a nail salon.

They all quoted their doctors and hospital lecturers saying it was dangerous for people with diabetes to risk infection or unclean facilities or getting cut by people who don’t know what they are doing. Diabetics have trouble with foot infections if the circulation to their legs is not good. It’s called neuropathy.

Mine is very good, but I still need to be careful.

Since I usually am the one who doesn’t know what he is doing, I decided to ask Dr. Cary, my podiatric surgeon, and a careful and conscientious doctor. She is the Lord of my feet when it comes to foot health.

(Note, I don’t usually support businesses on my blog, but I would urge any of you reading this to consider getting a pedicure. This industry has been hit hard by the pandemic, and by rapidly rising bigotry and hate crimes. We were all alone in our nail salon today, and it’s a big place that felt warm but empty. There were only two pedicurists working. Asian women in particular are the target of brutal hate crimes in America now. Below is the number and address of my nail parlor, and while my blog isn’t local, it does have some local readers.  And there is probably a nail salon near everyone reading this. Most nail parlors are run and staffed by Asian women. (Anti-Asian hate crimes increased by nearly 15o percent in 2020, thanks Largely to Mr. Trump and his Hate And Rage Movement and anti-China rhetoric.) Think about giving your feet a kiss. These people had an awful year, they are safe and hard-working, they could use some support.)

As part of my Bedlam Farm Old Man Safety And Health Campaign, I’m adding quarterly visits to Dr. Cary to my campaign, along with various rails, tools, hiking and ice shoes, mats, doctors visits, procedures,  and other anti-fall additions to the farm, especially in winter.

And oh yes, my daily gym visits.

On my last visit to Dr. Cary (I had some surgery on my foot which scared me a bit, but which turned out to be minor and easily treatable), I asked her if it was okay for me to get a pedicure to handle the nails and callouses and other issues brought on by my flat feet.

I’m getting fitted for new orthotics next week, but she said, “sure, make sure the place is clean and tell them you have diabetes. I have no problems with it.”

Me either. The owner didn’t speak a lot of English, but she knew what diabetes meant. “No problem,” she said. And there wasn’t any. The pedicurists did a better job than I ever did.

Nightingale Nails will handle nails, ingrown and regular, and my callouses if there still are any.

I was uncomfortable for about three seconds.

This is why I am cautious about advice. If I took all of it, I would never leave the house and sleep in a tunnel in the basement behind cinder blocks.

This is the year of my facing reality and taking care of myself.  Maria, who came with me to the doctor, said she was in for the visit. Why? I asked. Why not? she answered.

Perhaps it’s a class thing. I’ve always thought of pedicures as being for the rich and idle, I don’t know why. A kind of social bigotry, I think.

I love that the two of us got our pedicures together. I really loved it. The pedicurist was professional and trimmed my nails in places I can no longer reach and don’t want to ask anyone else to try and reach. I didn’t expect the rubbing and massage. I didn’t expect my feet to feel so healthy, light, and clean.

The manager and pedicurist were shocked when, after Maria got her nails painted, I realized I had to act quickly. “Please,” I shouted,”  pointing to Maria’s feet and mine, “I want my toenails painted too!”

I finally pointed and gestured in the right way, and the manager and the pedicurists both cracked up. “Blue,” I shouted, pointing to the long racks of nail polish on the wall near the entrance.

The manager came over with three choices of blue, and I chose the brightest.

I am thrilled to have done this with Maria; we both laughed like school kids heading for the prom and marveled at what we had done. \As we were leaving, we signed up for another pedicure one month from today.

We plan to do this every month and/or every time I had a podiatrist appointment. Sometimes I’ll go alone, sometimes she’ll come.

Aside from the obvious, there are good reasons for me to do this. Feet need health care too, especially for diabetics. I’ve exploited my feet my whole life, it’s their turn.

If I take care of my feet, they will continue to take care of me, same as my heart. We went to celebrate by getting a slice of pizza at a nearby take-out, and then we drove home, laughing, smiling, shaking our heads all the way.

Life is really quite a wonderful thing if you can open it to it, rather than whine and argue about it. Things that make me nervous are often quite worthy of doing.

Things I’ve never done before feed my brain and soul with new energy. I feel the same way, curiously, when I see my Amish neighbors or bring them books to read.

I should make a point of saying how clean, well-equipped, colorful, and bright the Nightingale Salon was. The staff was friendly, nice, competent, and extremely professional.

Maria and I said the same thing. The staff never once made us feel uncomfortable, nervous, or sorry we were there.

They took great steps to be clean and safe. We all wore masks; they sanitized and scrubbed our feet, the basin, their hands just as the CDC suggests nail salons do.

I’m going to do this regularly and enthusiastically. As to the toenails, I can’t really explain it; it was just an impulse I think I might continue. Brighten up where you can, yes?

Maria often jokes that I would make a great Drag Queen, which surprises me since I always wear the same shades of blue or black shirts and paints. Something in your eyes, she twinkles.

She says she wants to get me a feather boat to walk around town in and get me some clothes like the David character (Daniel Levy) in Schitt’s Creek wears.

I told her I don’t think I’d live too long wearing those clothes in town. I’ll stick with my blue shirts and pants.

I am committed to a life of first things; they help me see the world clearly and openly. I never once imagined my lengthening life that my toenails would be painted blue.

My feet were the most neglected and ignored parts of my body. No more. They will get what they deserve.

Next time, I’m going for yellow.