[1]After the holidays, I treated myself to a rare winter mani/pedi. As soon as I started to relax, the Mongolian-born manicurist, making small talk I’m sure, asked me what I did on Christmas, and I told her about my dinner party. She asked if I was a good cook, and I answered, “yeah, pretty good.” And then she said, “your husband is a lucky man.” In what seemed like an interminable few seconds of silence, I had a full conversation with myself, in which I debated the various ways to respond. In the end, I just smiled and shook my head, yes.
(For more on the subject, read Interrogation at the Nail Salon [2])
Photo of an Indian bridal ritual by Ozzie Hoppe [1]