It was really about the nails. And the 20% tip

 I quit a very popular salon and spa in the Milwaukee area last year.  I had started going to their downtown location back in 2000 for waxing and went off and on until about 2010 and I went to their north shore location.  I booked a manicure on a whim. I went once in awhile but it was more like a once a year or twice a year thing.  Not once a week.  

I thought my nail tech's name was Kandy.  I misheard because it was a gay man who asked for me.  I thought this should be interesting and it was fun.  We did a stress relief chair massage after my manicure and K offered me to have my hair washed out and blown dry by one of the hair stylists for free because he had used oils on my hair while he worked on my head.  I like free and I was up for the plan.  I wound up coming back for hair and I treated myself to a few more nail appointments with K.

I liked K.  He was fun to talk to and such a delight.  He was like a therapist.  We had a great time laughing and he was such a joy greeting me with a big hug.  There was one point where he was splitting his time between downtown and north shore.  I made an appointment at the downtown location and after my appointment I went to a cupcake place down the street and bought one. I came back to the salon and wrote a nice thank you card for him.  I thought he's such a good person. 

I felt bad when he left.  He was leaving to go manage a store down south.  I wished him well.  I did find him one night on Facebook and sent him a friend request.  He accepted and we would chat once in awhile. 

In the meantime, I did go to someone else at his salon but then she left and with my medical, I opted out of doing something like that.  It wasn't until maybe 7 years ago, I found a place in a nice suburb on the east side that was run by a husband and wife.  I'm not sure what nationality they were, but they are lovely people and I liked the fact that I could park in the parking lot at the Shorewood library.  The prices were right and I could actually go once a month.  I used to set some cash aside when I would get paid and that would be my mad money from the nail salon. I was surprised at how nice their customers were and I loved their reclining chairs.  

Then my friend K came back to town and was doing nails every other Sunday.  He was managing a store at one of the malls, he had gotten transferred back and I was happy to hear that.  I thought it was be nice to see him. His prices were higher and I thought well, maybe I could go every few months and still go back to the family place.

While I sat and waited for our first appointment, K came up to me from behind and gave me the biggest hug and we both started laughing.  It was so nice to see him.  I needed to laugh more.  I had a wonderful time talking to him and I didn't want it to end.  

I booked more appointments.  I really don't get how people are such users.  I had no idea what was about to happen.  

I did go to the store he managed and he was thrilled at how much I spent.  I'm not.  I regret it.  I get it when I look back at it.  Me being generous makes me very popular with users like K.  I get it.  I didn't at the time and I'm so embarrassed to realize that now.

I broke down during an appointment with all of my medical going on. I needed another surgery and I felt so distraught.  I really felt like maybe I wasn't going to live long.  K comforted me and told me that we should watch out for each other and we exchanged phone numbers.  He said I could call him if I ever needed a ride for a medical appointment.  I had someone but I appreciated it. I would have been there if he needed me.  That's what friends do, right?

And shortly after that, K told me that he would be leaving the nail salon.  To be honest, I wasn't sad.  I couldn't afford him.  Big difference between what he charged and what my old place charged.  He had suggested that I come over to his place and he would do my nails. I thought that would be nice, but it wasn't about the nails. I thought it would be nice if we could hang out and talk.  Or go for coffee, even though I don't drink it.  He said that he was going to be there for a couple of more months so we would talk more at the next appointment.

Except there was no more appointments.  I got a call from the salon and they told me he left.  How come I didn't get a text?  I was puzzled and then just felt like I got left out in the cold. 

I didn't hear from him for 6 weeks and he told me he missed me.  I asked why didn't you tell me you left?  I felt kind of left out in the cold and I felt hurt.  He apologized and said he would learn better in the future. I didn't hear from him again.

Until 6 months later, I found out he came back to the salon when I came in for my hair color and cut.  My hair stylist told me that K was back and I didn't have the heart to tell her we weren't talking. I felt guilty that I went off in a text.  Maybe I'm too sensitive.  Maybe I'm the problem.  I seem to be always the problem.

I sent him a text and I apologized. I said I heard he was back.  I heard from him and for awhile, we went back and forth texting.  We would see each other when I had a hair appointment.  Covid was still going on and I was doing my medical treatment.  I had thought about getting my nails done at some point but part of me just felt uncomfortable with covid.  And the price.

It seemed like K kept popping up and telling me I looked beautiful when my hair stood out straight on end while I waited for the color to process.  I kind of felt like something wasn't right.  There was a point where I had sent him a text and to this date, I never heard back from him.  I didn't see him at the salon for awhile.

Then right around Christmas, he pops up to tell me how beautiful I look with my hair standing on end and I told him the salon wouldn't appreciate their employees day drinking.  It wasn't until my hair stylist asking me about why I don't go for nail services anymore that I realized what was going on.  When I told her that my medical takes a lot of my money, I got unfollowed by K on Instagram.  I didn't notice it right away but I knew they were friendly with each other.

He was pushing for me to come back.  It was about the nails all along.  And the 20% tip. I regret giving up the nail salon in Shorewood for awhile. I did go back for a few months before Covid hit.  They're nice people and if I ever do find spare change in the coach I will go in for an appointment.  

I realized that when he wanted me to come to his place for nails, he was going to charge me.  I thought we did have a friendship and it really sucks that I got buttered up like an idiot.

Sad to say, I could write a three book trilogy about all the people who have used me. 

My hair stylist can thank him for helping her lose a customer who went there for 10 years.  She did actually give me her business card when I went through radiation treatment.  She was a holistic therapist and thought I could hand them out to people at the cancer center.

Sigh. I really don't hate people.  I just don't like being used.