Sharp Dressed Man

Maria ran away from home and I ended up with  a surprise visitor for the night.  I was exhausted from three very busy work days and glad Maria showed up for conversation and our usual laugh fest.

We decided to go for dinner at the Roadhouse, an easy walk down the hill.  I certainly didn't plan on meeting or talking to anyone other than Maria so threw on my oldest sweatshirt and gave my hair free rein to be as wild as it wanted to be.

I should have known better.  Isn't it always when you look your worst that you run into people you know or meet someone new?  So, yep, that is what happened.  Enter the sharp dressed man.

Maria and I were sitting at the bar and he took the chair one down from Maria.  The last time we were at the Roadhouse Maria struck up a conversation with a cowboy so no surprise that she was soon conversing with the sharp dressed man.  I liked the sharp dressed man and it seems he liked me as well.  But it was quite evident that this well groomed man was not a "full-timer".  Everything about him seemed too meticulous.  He was not wearing shorts, or tennis shoes, a ball cap or  T-shirt.  His nails were perfectly manicured (although he assured me he had never in his life had a manicure).  This was a man still working in corporate America.

I have been full timing for almost three years.  I live in RV parks or out on the desert.  I shower in whatever facility is available, sometimes going longer than I will ever admit.  I try to get my laundry done once a week and the last time I got a hair cut I cut it myself (braided my hair into two pigtails and chopped off the ends).  Every now and then I get a manicure or pedicure, but it is still a rare occurrence.  I do my best to keep up some type of beauty routine for my face, massage lotion into my hands and feet each night and try to keep an assortment of clothes that can be worn for any occasion.  But I don't often get an occasion to wear those clothes.  I live in a 25' motor home, sleep alone and there is not much need for too much grooming. 

And this new man I met has got me thinking about the effort it would take to be a little more groomed.  Would I really have to shave my legs more frequently and take a shower more often?  Do something more to my hair, pluck my eyebrows?  I am not sure I am up to the task.

So I am not sure if this man will call me again or not, but he sure got me thinking about this easier lifestyle of mine and if a full-timing woman and a corporate man even have much in common.