Travels in Grants

Hands —what marvelous creations-they can pick a tiny hair of some clothing, or hold and carry a heavy load, or gently touch someone we love. However, the parts of the hand that seem to get the most attention are the fingernails. Their basic function is to protect our most peripheral body parts from environmental infections or injuries. Seems they have also become cherished ornaments and displays of nail art.

Many thousands of years ago, our brothers and sisters in India and Egypt used henna as coloring. During the Chinese Zhou dynasty, gold and silver were the choice of royalty, later replaced by black and red. Colors indicated social class. Babylonian warriors had their hair curled and nails done to prepare for war. Incas had eagles painted on their nails. But all these concerns faded until the late 1800's and nail polish and nail art increased in popularity during the 2000's-aided by the development of military explosives and cellulosic varnishes during WWI, that later produced durable car paint and acrylic nail polish. [Gel nails are an alternate polymer that requires an ultraviolet lamp.] Al this creates problems for physicians who had indications of disease by looking at nails in their natural state. For example, brittle nails may indicate hypothyroidism, ridged nails fi there are chronic infections or poor nutrition, spoon shape in iron deficiency anemia, clubbed fi lung problems, white bands if fevers or arsenic poisoning, small hemorrhages fi blood clots, etc. Well, maybe I should actually go to a nail salon.

The Star Nails and Spa is a large bright place with a couple of fish tanks and hundreds of nail polish bottles on Santa Fe Ave. across from Grants Park. Since my fingernails didn't want a few coats of car paint, I chose a pedicure, even though I think one foot is funny looking. There are these big wonderful chairs that give you a friendly back massage while your feet soak in warm jets of colored water. Then the silent staff apply lots of lotions, do delicate trimming and massage feet and legs. I had cut my parents nails when they were older but it was a quick clip like the vet does with my pets. It would have been fun to treat them to this kinder, more luxurious experience. And Iwould have loved to see my aunt drag in her tough husband [with the calloused hands and neglected feet] for an adventure in Tender Loving Care [nail polish not included]. Ithink he would secretly enjoy it.

Today's lesson: Life can be difficult at times. We need an occasional act of kindness to help build our supply of moments of quiet pleasure.

Joan Klonowski