Maria and I got our first pedictures ever together about six or seven months ago, just before I cut my foot and I ended up in surgery for a bone spur a couple of months ago. Since I couldn’t see the wound or get down to it, Maria graciously and without complaint changed my bandates every morning, added lotions and helped me sleep all through the summer and the fall.

We were shocked that such a small wound could cause so much trouble and mystified by the first wound in my life that just wouldn’t heal. My very competent surgeon figured out it was bone spur and operated to get rid of it. And it is gone.

Today, to thank Maria for helping me every single day and watching over me, and driving me to the doctor a dozen times (I was in a surgical boot for months), I took her and myself to get a pedicure.

I loved my first ever pedicure and realized it can be very valuable to me, a safe way of caring for the foot that keeps it healthy and keeps me from pain. And wow, is it relaxing.

I painted my toenails yellow and red (Maria painted hers as well) and we had a blast. Every time I saw the pediatric surgeon, I asked her if I could get another pedicure, and every time I asked, she said no,  wait.

Last week she finally said yes, and I wanted to thank Maria for all  her help. She liked her pedicure very much and we were both pleased that we could do it together.

(I am very grateful to her,  at times, I worried about losing my foot, once the bone spur was removing, the wound disappeared and the foot was back to normal in a week.) You have a healthy foot, the doctor told me.

We went to the Nightingale Salon in Saratoga Springs at 2:30 and it was another fun and relaxing and healthy experience. I even got a foot and shoulder message.

I asked the pedicurist if she could paint the word “Maria” on each of my big toes. She tried, but reported that the toe nail wasn’t big enough, could she put part of it on one toe – “Ma” –  and part of it – “Ria” – on the other? I got my toenails painted red and asked for the lettering to be in white.

The manicurist spoke no English and we gestured back and forth but understood one another. I have to say I loved being a 74-year-old man getting his toenails painted and discovering the special pleasures of the pedicture.

I am hooked on the pedicure process, all I can say is that I can see how good it is for my foot health to do this – my surgeon enthusiastically endorsed it now that my toe is fine. Maria and I held hands, laughed and relaxed as the process wore on.

We had a lot of fun. We’ll be back at the Nightingale Nail Salon next month.

We were there for an hour and a half and my foot is in great shape. The massage was pretty cool too. I can’t wait to see the doctors and nurses who worked with me at our next appointent in late December and show them my toes. One of the nurses is still getting over pulling my sock off and seeking a painted face on my toe smiling at her.

Painting my right big toe red. Maria said it’s a good color for my feet.