I worked at a high school near South Carolina, today; and knowing that my next 72 hours are slammed with almost every moment accounted for, I had to get a mani/pedi right quick like and in a hurry, as my grandma would say, if it was going to be a reality. Otherwise, I would need to wait several weeks as the result of an upcoming medical procedure. So, I thought what better idea than to go to SC, cross the border and just get lost. I can go where NOBODY knows my name. What a novel idea. Well, as it turns out...not so novel. Everyone and their brother was getting pedi/mani's today. I went to three locations before I found a salon that was not slammed, and at this one there was even a double date with a couple whose fellas were getting a pedicure for their first time. They were hysterical and provided quite a bit of entertainment for my experience. There is nothing like seeing their men folks' faces when the hot paraffin wax is placed on their feet! Priceless! Guys have no clue what we do to look natural!
When I first arrived at this salon, I knew the atmosphere felt different. It was alive with the laughter of these couples, the stories of a public preschool teacher from somewhere in the area, young ladies giggling on their cell phones and muffled sounds of music from the earbuds of an iPhone that were actively engaged by its owner. I liked it! Across the room I saw an attractive Asian man with quite an impressive gun show. I have never seen biceps quite that large on someone his statue. It was fascinating. I figured with that kind of strength, he could give a great pedicure without getting fatigued. Through later conversations, I discovered that he was computer engineer who worked his way through college as a nail technician and enjoys doing nails on the weekends to raise extra money for his wife and five year old daughter. Yes...I would pick him...but wait!?! Too late. I was being "the picked" before I had the chance to be "the picker". It was a timid, tiny (and I mean tiny) Asian woman who spoke so softly that I had to strain to hear her. Her English was very good, but her projection was slight. She smiled a lot, and I could tell her thoughts were very deep and that she rarely dabbled in small talk or shallow conversations. She wasn't my first choice due to her size, but my later observation yielded promise. I don't like to be asked general questions during beauty sessions. Just let me think. I assessed that she would comply quite naturally with my need for quiet. So, I thought, "This could be okay."
She did an outstanding job on my feet. She was so meticulous and so thorough. She only spoke to make sure I was satisfied with various parts of the process. I even closed my eyes at one point to savor it...and I never close my eyes at pedi/mani. She made me feel comfortable, and I felt I understood her. I don't believe in hocus pocus or magic or fortune tellers, but I do believe in Divine appointments and Divine promptings where you just are imparted knowledge that you couldn't know without some impartation from Someone bigger than you. This was such a day for me.
The pedicure being finished, we moved to the manicure. She didn't ask me personal questions or probe into my business with small talk (I hate that...don't ask me if I'm married, where I work, how many kids I have, etc. if we just met in a setting where I am paying for service from you. It's not bad. It's just not enjoyable to me.) Later though, she did begin to share about herself. Easing in at first and waiting for my nudging to affirm that I wanted her to share more, I learned that she had a third grade little girl who had a hard time as an ELL (English Language Learner) student--a little girl who used to hate to read, because she didn't understand the language---a little girl who now can't put a book down. Her mother was so proud. I learned that 'Mr. Impressive Gun Show" was actually the brother-in-law of my manicurist and that her husband was the music man who was absorbed in his iPhone. I learned that 15 years ago, when my husband, James, taught at Hunter Huss, she was a student there. She never knew him, and I was saddened to find that her experience was not that pleasant. I learned that she knows the exact Asian markets to buy rice and from which ones to purchase meat, and that it is well worth the drive to obtain your Asian cuisine from just the right store. I learned that she is proud of how well her daughter speaks Vietnamese and that it is sad to her when her daughter and the young cousins get together and only use English to communicate. I learned that her name was Lisa just like mine! Wow! At first, I thought I was misunderstanding when people were calling her name, but no...it was true! We were the same name!
As our conversation continued I was curious if Lisa's daughter was still in ESL (English as a Second Language) or if she had exited the program. I was told that she was in the program but that she spent less time with the ESL teacher now. I wanted to know what qualified her daughter for continuation in ESL so I could offer some support. Was the continued placement due to needing assistance with: Reading, Writing, Speaking or Listening (The 4 necessary language skills)? Lisa said, "It is..compre...com...compre...C...". I said, "Was it comprehension?" She said yes, and we tried to pronounce it together a few times. She said, "What comprehension mean?" I explained that it means understanding and knowing what you've read or heard in a way that you could successfully retell it to someone else.
Throughout the course of our conversation, I liked her more and more. In the back of my mind, I kept wondering what her name was before it was Lisa. I kept feeling prompted to ask, but how could I do that? I might embarrass her. I certainly didn't want her to feel like I didn't think Vietnamese could have American names, but something kept prompting me to ask. I know that prodding that says, "If you follow Me, this could be really good. Why don't you stop resisting and pulling against Me or you'll miss this moment." Finally, I just bit the bullet and said, "Lisa, what was the name you were born with? What did your parents name you?" She looked at me and said, "It's what you said." When you said "Understand" that is how you say my name. It is pronounced 'Hue'. If you raise voice at the end...it is my name. If you lower voice at the end...it means 'understand'. I write for you to show you." She sure did! I took a picture of it. We practiced. She instructed me, and I was an attentive student. What were the chances that we were having a conversation with so much connection and so much foreshadowing.
When I got home I looked up both hieu's. One is generally a boy's name that means respected or admired. The other means to digest something, to be savvy or to understand. What an amazing day! Like my dad, I've always found people easy to love and usually find some special gem inside of everyone. I have a big heart and couldn't function in an environment where I couldn't use that gift. I wouldn't want to even try. I love watching people. They are beautiful. Today, I was reminded of several things:
- Crossing the border away from your home can sometimes bring you closer to home
- Love, savor and celebrate the moment you're in---this has been a challenge for an ADD, Type A, female...but the payoff is always well worth it
- Never hold back your heart...even at risk of being broken...love, love, love...serve, serve, serve...and give, give, give.
- Today I refreshed and loved students. They returned this to me. I refreshed and loved a beautiful, mysterious and fascinating manicurist...she did the same for me. "He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."
- Finally, it's all about the hue. All the colors, connections and compliments make a beautiful tapestry. We need diversity and differences, but it's important to take a little extra time to celebrate that magical moment when your hue stumbles upon someone who may have a different culture, a different background...but underneath the label...they really have the same hue as you!
Hey Hue! Look over here! You're just like me!
My hieu lessons on ordinary receipt paper filled with Lisa's other notes. There is a good chance she is interested in saving trees too! I can tell by how little space is left on this paper. She is using up every space
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