The word pleasure has been defined as (1) the state or feeling of being pleased, and (2) enjoyment or satisfaction derived from what is to one’s liking; gratification; delight.

Since we’re all clear as to what pleasure means, I’ll ask you this simple question. When was the last time that you truly enjoyed one of the simpler pleasures of life? The last time I found myself enjoying a simple pleasure was last night when my daughter gave me a at home pedicure. I had gotten so used to going to the nail salon, that I never gave any thought to doing my own feet other than my purple Mr. Pumice at bath time and foot lotion with sleep socks at bed time. Well wouldn’t you know it, I stumped my toe and broke a corner off of my nail so I resorted to trimming it myself. As I was rummaging through the nail bag for the proper tool, my daughter came in and asked me what I was doing. I told her I was about to trim my toenail. After several minutes of nonstop laughter and teasing, she asked, “Ms. Bougie doing her own nails… really?” I replied, “I sure am smarty pants.” Then on a more serious note Jasmine politely asked me if I wanted her to give me a pedicure. Of course normally I would had scoffed and sarcastically said, “No thank you.” but oddly enough for some strange reason my response was a very sincere “Yes Pea that would be great!” Usually, I would have just refrained from wearing any type of shoes that left your toes exposed until I could have gotten to the nail salon. Unlike me, Jasmine loves doing her own pedicures at home in between salon visits so she has all the gadgets, right down to the spa foot tub and paraffin wax apparatus that you dip your hands and feet into! Jasmine got busy right away at the task at hand and pulled out all her wonderful little pedicure goodies. She quickly began working her pedicure magic; taking the polish off my toes trimming, shaping, buffing and so on and so forth. We were laughing and talking and having a really good time. For a moment, my thoughts took me back in time to when Jasmine was a little girl. I remembered that on Saturday nights I would always polish her toes a lovely shade of pink for church on Sunday. I suddenly began to notice how nice this particular moment felt. Jasmine and I usually enjoy our pedicures sitting side by side in those wonderful spa pedicure massaging chairs at our favorite nail salon with a cold beverage in one hand, a cell phone in the other hand and a magazine across our laps making small talk with our favorite nail technician. But tonight there’s no spa pedicure massaging chairs, cell phones, magazines, or nail technicians; just a grateful mom, a loving daughter, two iced teas and one great pedicure, no tip required!