maomee

A little over a month ago I was to attend a black tie fundraiser. A posh event in which all the directors, managers, chief officers and their spouses would be at. Apparently it was less about fundraising and more about showing off. As such, it turned out my simple little department store dress wouldn't cut it. So off to Nordstrom's I went the day before Thanksgiving with only a few hours to spare so that I could find a new outfit. Now I don't really care for politics, and I care even less for shopping, but you cannot win if you don't play the game.

I found the first woman I could in the dress department and explained the situation to her. I needed a complete outfit: evening dress, undergarments, shoes, jewelry, and bag. I told her I didn't have much time and I didn't care for shopping, either. To top it all off, I didn't really care much for fashion (although I will admit to having a love of Vera Wang-- beauty in simplicity, my kind of gal). I'm a 'wear what I like' kind of woman. 

This saleswoman was so fantastic. We walked around briefly as she picked up a few dresses that fit the ambiguous description of what I liked and then she carted me off to the fitting room. As I was in there she kept coming with more dresses, helped me in and out of my zippers, and gave her opinions on what I was wearing. We narrowed it down to a few, and then she went off to find shoes while I relaxed. 

While trying on shoes I bent over to hold one while I slipped my foot into it and she says to me, while on her knees,  "no, let me do that for you. I'm your handmaiden for the day." 

Once shoes were narrowed down, she brought me bags and jewelry and even undergarments-- all to go with the various outfits I'd decided on. I didn't move from the dressing room the entire time I was there.  I sat back, relaxed, and enjoyed myself.  

This experience was by far the best time I ever had shopping, and it was probably the reason I spent such a ridiculous amount on clothes I'll hardly ever wear. 

I will never forget that young woman, and not just because she had an unusual name. I wish I could have taken her home with me.  I will continue to go to Nordstrom's, and now I call first just to make sure she's working. 

This is where I realized that a handmaiden was what I'm looking for.  The entire experience was so gratifying. I want this level of service daily. To not have to worry about the little details, to have time to relax because I know there is someone capable of handling them--  to just have the time to relax period.  This is my desire.