Insensitive? Yep…

Bet my visit to get taxes done this year was more interesting than yours!  (No, this is not being judged by the size of our refund…there wasn’t one.)  It’s for reasons other than “related to money…”    

When we walked in the shop’s front door, our regular preparer (a 40something female) greeted us as usual, apparently not noticing my attire (short shorts, polo blouse and strappy sandals with my white toe nails on display), or my face above the mask (the same face she sees every year), and we got right down to business.  As we were going over the paperwork, she looked at me, and asked me out loud, in front of Wifey, “____________, are you all right?”  Ummmm…say what?  “Have you hurt your eyes?  They look very dark underneath…”  “Oh, that?  I’ve had those dark bags under my eyes since I was a kid…” And that began a segue into a discussion of them – the first time this has ever happened.  Wifey wasn’t terribly thrilled with it, but the discussion led itself to a conclusion, and once we got back to the business at hand, it was over.  Or so Wifey and I thought at the time.

After everything was complete, we gathered up our documentation, our copy of the final tax returns, and headed to the reception area to pay the bill.  Our preparer, who followed behind us to the counter to enter the payment, apparently was watching my legs and feet. (I could almost “feel the stare.”)   Wifey and I both heard her say that it’s “the first time I’ve ever seen your legs and feet – you’re usually wearing leggings and ballet flats.”  Amazing that she remembered…or maybe not. “Right you are – normally this tax work occurs in late March, not late April, when it’s cooler than today’s 85 degrees!  But shorts and sandals are such fun to wear” was my response…and thankfully, no further questionable discussions occurred.

Once in the car, Wifey and I discussed the discoloration issue, and how shocked Wifey was to hear it brought up publicly.  She married me with the issue, and it’s still there, so it’s not a problem for her.  But I said that I’ll start applying facial makeup each day.  She’s fine with that approach, to make it less noticeable to others.  “Maybe you can even get help with the proper shade of foundation,  powder and a neutral lipstick at Ulta or MAC.”  (I wouldn’t have expected that much agreement – it’s a really big plus. And I won’t have any reason to try to camouflage the fact that I’m wearing makeup – even from the kids if the subject comes up!) 

We certainly concur that the preparer was more than a bit insensitive…both with regard to my eyes, and the comment about my legs and feet.  (We’re both surprised she didn’t mention my white toe nails, and it makes us both wonder if she may have a “thing” just for legs?)  But we aren’t going to change preparers. She does a good job. We’ll just have to wonder what revelations next year will bring.  Unfortunately, my joke that “maybe next year, I should wear an up-do hair style, cute mini-dress, 5” heeled sandals and 20 long red nails to her office” got a rather cold stare!!

Speaking of sandals, several of the sandals you’ve seen me wearing are slip-on styles.  I have one good pair of “dressy” sandals with a backstrap (bought years ago and worn sparingly):

That’s in addition to many other more casual pairs.  She has several times mentioned that she likes the above pair better than all the rest, and that sandals are fine for everyday. When we go someplace, including less casual things, as long as sandals are appropriate footwear for women “that’s what you’ll wear.”

An interesting change…I’ll find out what that really means in practical terms as time goes on. My “business” outfit is a women’s pants suit – dark pants, matching jacket, and button-front blouse. Up to now, I’ve always worn a pair of ballet flats. Women almost always wear sandals with pants suits or dresses, so it’s possible that I’ll find myself wearing them, too. Time will tell.

One thing is certain: I need to find a second pair of pretty leather sandals with a backstrap “that she also approves of,”  to keep these looking good for as long as possible.   I’ll keep you advised about that search.

Mandy