Yes

I have been trying to embrace Liz Lemon's season 5 New Year's resolution to say "yes."

This is how I found myself rapping The Black Eyed Peas' "Where's the Love" at a Karaoke place in downtown Portland. And accepting three callings. And going on a Relief Society campout with complete strangers.

And, despite my worst doubts, fears, and anxieties, at the age of 26 I said yes to my first manicure and pedicure. I am in Texas for the Christie & Steven bash of 2012, and amid Target errands and getting lost within the depths of Houston, Christie and I found time to "relax."

I understand that the point of a manicure and pedicure is to be lavished upon with soft hands and lotions and to transform shabby nails into glowing I-just-got-my-nails-done beauties. But for some reason I have always dreaded the thought of someone staring at my hands and feet, judging my every cuticle. And touching me.

Most importantly the touching.

I think this dread all began with a full-body massage I had the complete and utter misfortune the pleasure to have while I was in China. I was visiting my friend Meghan, and she thought it was an excellent idea to get hour-long full-body massages. They're really cheap, and they sounded delightful. We arrived, paid our money, put on their silly pajamas, and then the terror began.

You see, I'm incredibly ticklish. There is a small 4"x4" square in the center of my back, a large portion of my head, and a tiny strip of my shins that aren't ticklish. Everything else is ticklish. Everything.

I tried to relax.

She kept hitting my back, yelling "relax, relax!!!" And the more I tried to will myself to relax, the more tense I became. I dreaded her hands moving beyond the small square of safety in the center of my back. I winced every time she got close to my shoulders or sides. I clenched my teeth. I was near tears.

It was the longest hour of my life.

With this experience in my back pocket, I put on a brave face for my mani/pedi. Not only did I survive, but it was actually quite pleasant. And, I must say, my nails do look like glowing I-just-got-my-nails-done beauties.