Pretty in Pink

The end of the year Picture Day happened last week at our elementary school. During the morning car rider unloading, it was a real treat seeing all the Littles dressed up in their finest. The girls wore Sunday morning dresses, sparkly shoes, and bows in their hair. Wearing long sleeved shirts, dress pants, and suit coats, some of the boys even bested my Sunday best. Sure, there were the occasional Crocs and shorts, but most were in their big kid clothes and took pictures their moms will look back on for years to come and smile. 

Even Yours Truly wore big boy clothes.

After being a firefighter for twenty-eight years, it is nice to work at a place that lets you wear different clothes every day. Let’s face it, I’ve seen the pictures. I don’t look good in fire department blue. So, for picture day this week, I picked a shirt color that no fireman would dare wear to the station – a shirt that got more compliments from any that I’ve worn all this school year.

Deep pink.

Yes, Dear Reader, I wore a pink shirt and loved it. The experience made me look back at the other “non-traditional for men” things I’ve tried. Let me share just a few with you and perhaps you men out there will try them too.

First, get a good manicure. Don’t be afraid. It’s okay. “Man” is even in the name. From the time you walk in the door until you leave, the experience is truly something you must try at least once. And if you’re like me, you’ll try it once every two months. Sitting in those high back chairs is worth the price alone. Equipped with programmable rollers, thumpers, push-ins, pull-outs, vibrating things, and heat, the spa chair offers more than any recliner I’ve ever reclined in. The only thing better at the nail salon is a pedicure.

Menfolk out there, go ahead! Take off your shoes! Sit in the spa chair for another hour while bathing your feet in warm, soapy water. Your toes will be clipped, sanded and buffed. The folks there will even sand the bottom of your feet. Yes, I know. We all have multiple grades of sandpaper back at the house, but take it from me: don’t use that orbital sander on your feet. It just doesn’t work the same.

Deluxe is the only way to go.

This is where you spend the money. Go deluxe on the pedicure. Spend a little and get a lot. After the traditional poking, clipping, and sanding, they’ll wrap hot towels around your legs up to your knees. After five minutes, the towels come off, then hot rocks are rubbed up and down and pounded to get rid of all the knots. Trust me, by the time they’re done, walking out the door with your super relaxed legs will be difficult.

Finally, go ahead and do the facial, but one warning. During my time as a fire fighter, I wore a breathing apparatus and mask while crawling into burning buildings, some over 2,000 degrees. Never once did I panic, and never once did I want to pull off my mask. But getting my face wrapped in a hot wet towel for twenty minutes, I thought I was gonna perish. To date, I think getting a facial is the most unmanly thing this man has ever tried. And it scared me to death.

Today we all got our pictures back, and I must admit, I was surprised how mine turned out. Not only was the picture one of the best I’ve ever taken, it’s now displayed right outside our classroom door. 

My birthday is in about two weeks, and I hope to get gift certificates for the nail salon or a new shirt. After all, Mr. Rick looks pretty in pink. (And that facial really worked some kind of magic.)