The Perfect Shade of Hue

I was never the girl who had to get my nails done before a date. Manicures weren't in my repertoire of rituals. I always put in the effort- hair blown straight or imperfectly tousled, makeup fresh, heels (when applicable) aren't scuffed, new tights (holy women are not us), shpritz of perfume, (not too much, I've mastered the walkthrough just a touch) and my diamond loop earrings, the ones my grandfather made, because just because. 

More recently, I started to get manicures before a date. It was abstract in the most literal way, Essie's range of sheer pinks we're there to proclaim preconceived assurances.  

I was being painted with sheer luck, ballet slippers, high maintenance, and on occasion, steal his last name…my little visual metaphor. 

The nail technician, Sandra, was in on it as well; sometimes when she was massaging my hands for an extra minute, she would flip my wrist over, search my palm and read the long fine line, "fortune is in your future, someone very special is coming soon" thanks, I'm going out with someone new tonight, so we'll see how it goes."

The nice thing about sheer, besides it being "eidel," is that even if it gets chipped, you don't have to run to get it redone right away. Kind of like the dates themselves, the first can be perfectly fresh, a topcoat is strong, the second date is still clean, but some nails (convo) are beginning to lose some of their sheen, and on the third, there are chips entirely. When the shidduch ends, I don't go back to get my nails done the morning after. I usually take it off myself, allow my nails some time to breathe (metaphor again), and until the next time…

Sometimes I eye the more risqué colors, not as an act of rebellion, but to see.

A shade of coral catches my eye, "Guilty Pleasures," and I think of all the emotions that ensue before a date, how the references give information that makes it seem like this one is so right, and I allow myself to anticipate…

I find a punchy red, "Aperitif" it's deemed, I had to Google search this "an alcoholic drink served as an appetizer before the meal," again kind of like dates, sometimes we come in, on a perfectly random Wednesday at 7:30 pm, and it’s the second or third date, so you assume food is on the menu. Still, no, it's drinks again, or 2.5 hour-long walks that in a world is seemingly romantic but on an empty stomach, not as much. No, thank you to an aperitif.

I find a demure lavender, it makes me feel happy, "Spring In Your Step" not surprised, all the good feels surface, the in-between dates 2-3 when there's enough there that it feels like it's it, the shadchan feedbacks are both mutually positive, definitely spring in your step vibes. I hold this color for a little longer.

There's a bright blue, its azure, and it reminds me of a trip with friends; no shidduch talk allowed was the only requirement. Well, that didn't last very long, you can take the girls on vacation, but the "shadchan, boys, we're seemingly busy with mothers who are trying to redt their daughters while away" doesn't take a hiatus. “Aruba Blue” go figure.

I find a mellow lime, "Zip Me Up" - having all the 

what to wear/nothing to wear/why doesn't this fit like it did last time feels—sour vibes.

Two more categories of color are in the Essie playbook.

I pick up a silver that sparkles; how apropos, "Roll With It" is a girl's mantra in the shidduch playbook as well. 

And, of course, metallic’s and black. You know the go-to third date colors when you have to make an elegant yet very playful impression? (shadchans words, not mine.)

So many are befitting, "Stars Aligned”, "A Cut Above," "Space Out," "Venture To The Venue," "No Place Like Chrome," "Good as Gold," and like the shidduch process itself; The last color I select is an iridescent white with colored flecks. "Congrats," it's labeled. 

And I know which color to choose next.