Story Weekend: Shoes
Are you one of those women whose closet isn’t big enough to hold all your shoes? Or are you like me, limited to one pair of shoes because your feet are a mess? Did your dog chew up your best shoes before your hot date or did you break a heel as you got up to give the keynote speech at a conference? What’s your shoe story?
If you’re new to Story Weekend, here’s how it works: I pick a theme and you share something from your life that relates to that theme, however you interpret it. Thanks to all of you who’ve been contributing. As always, there are a few “rules”:
▪ The story must be true
▪ Try to keep it under 100 words. Embrace the challenge! That’s about six or seven lines in the comment form. I want others to read your story, and most people tend to skip if it’s too long. I know how tough it is to “write tight” but I hope you’ll accept this as a challenge.
Have fun!
Looks like I am first again. Well Shoes…Argh.This will be a whole lot of Ranting..When you are an Amazon woman with arthritis in the feet, it is not easy to find shoes. I wear a size 11 1/2…11 is too small, 12 is too big and you cannot find 11 1/2…Most of the time I buy mens athletic shoes. This only makes my feet look huge. I see all these cute little slip ons that ladies wear..They are so cute and fashionable. I know they don’t cost a small fortune either. I can’t afford to buy shoes from a specialty shop. I mean I could have one pair of shoes from their, but I bet they are not the sexy heels I so want to wear. Just thinking of shoes makes my feet hurt. Okay that is it. I apologize for this rant. Shoes are just not my friend. Sorry.
Shoes are an extension of last week’s story weekend, deadlines. My deadline was the early bird special at the local shoe warehouse. I’m 5 ft. 7 in. tall and wear a 7M but have an extremely high arch. There are only about 3 brands that I can comfortably wear ($$$). I needed new walking shoes and found my size in the correct brand marked down from the store’s regular price (with my rewards lol card) in addition to my 30% early bird coupon and tax free weekend on top of that.
I’ve been hiding out all week feeling as if I stole the shoes. I love deadlines (incentives) and shoes.
Ah shoes. The only part of your body that doesn’t change size as you age:} After a life of oppression and lose of control, I emarked on my journey to Ireland to a land where I would be loved and cherished. I left with only two suitcases stuffed to breaking point with my charity clothes collection and a self esteem that could have lived happily on the top of a pin head. I was a nothing with no one but my new partner and life. I had gone from the Go To Girl to the Where has that girl gone. While I was unpacking my motley collection of clothing, my partner purused the scene and asked. Where are your shoes? to which I replied as I looked down at my lonely pair of scuffed and well worn men’s black brogues, ‘On my feet’. He then said.’ I meant your other shoes’. ‘What other shoes? ‘ I asked. At that point in my life I looked into his eyes and realized all that my marriage had taken from me and I wept. I was ashamed at what I had allowed myself to become. Only six hours in the country found me wandering through a clothing shop with my partner while he said ‘Buy anything you want’ but I couldn’t. Everything was so expensive. I had stopped going to shops years ago so as to keep my longing for life at bay. Each price tag I turned over resulted in a flood of tears and he graciously stepped in and said ‘What size are you? ‘ and proceeded to buy me new clothes. New Clothes:}. Years down the rails that I have walked in my life I now have more shoes than any woman would or could ever wear in a lifetime. I buy them cause they are pretty and mostly because I am independent,secure,, much loved and because I can. When we renovated our home My lovely man bulit me a shoe cabinet. I am happy to say that it is stuffed to the brim with all manner of foot fetish glory. Just so you know, I would never , ever ask another woman to walk a mile in my shoes. It has been a journey of discovery and recovery and a heal is never just a heel unless it is attached to a shoe.
I am so happy that your Cup Runneth over…You so deserve it. A wonderful man that has given you back your self esteem and all that goes with it…It sounds like he needs to build you a bigger place to put your heart…because it is definitely been filled with love….
Thank you Cindy. That was many, many years ago and love did heal me. Thank God.I am now the girl who will try anything. I am blessed with a wonderful family and friends on both side of the pond and I also know that the lessons I learned in the tough times have made me who I am today
I just realized a few weeks ago that I had been wearing the same pair of Birkenstock sandals every summer day for about the past ten or fifteen years (I am fairly certain this is a common statement of Birkenstock wearers the world over). So I went to The Walking Store and bought two more pair…of the same exact sandal in two new colors. So basically I am set for summer for the next 30 years or so. Oh and the sandal is the Gizeh.
I worked at a teaching hospital as a social worker way back when. I was nervous one day when I had to make a big presentation to a roomful of doctors and medical students. I really appreciated working someplace that valued the contributions of a social worker to the medical team and wanted to do a great job. However, when I dressed that morning, I did so in the closet so I wouldn’t wake my husband. It wasn’t until I got to work that I noticed my one black shoe and one brown shoe. I was mortified! I opened my talk by announcing my mistake, which loosened everyone up, especially me. Maybe I should always where one black and one brown when I have to speak?
Don’t feel bad Diane. I did the same thing. Went to a formal affair, felt so elegant in my long black skirt and dressy blouse. Sat down and looked down to make sure the skirt was gracefully in place and woe is me, one black shoe and one navy shoe. Needless to say I spent the evening trying to cover the faux pas. I was mortified. Thankfully it was at night and the lighting was in my favor.
I feel better now.
I remember my mother had the ugliest pair of loafers, with tassels no less, when I was a pre-teen/teen. I would get so embarrassed when ever she wore them. I thought they were awful. I did not understand why she wore them, though she often told me they were her most comfortable pair of shoes. In my opinion comfort had nothing to do with it, you had to be fashionable. Little did I know that years later I would understand and fully appreciate my mother’s love of those ugly shoes. I often wear my sneakers or Teva sandals depending on the season, no matter what I may have one, for one reason and one reason only COMFORT! If my feet are not comfortable then I am not comfortable. Students have asked me many times over the years why I wear sneakers with a dress and my response is always that they are comfortable. I do not care how ugly my shoes are as long as my feet are comfy.
My name is Lila & I want Gary’s shoes! I’m the new 7 mo. Doberman next door and Gary’s outdoor treads are really cool…he wears them when he gardens, when he mows, playing with his pup Kenya…this guy is so nice, he sees me jump the fence and lets me play with Kenya. I watch him take these shoes off and leave them on the deck. I have a plan…after my owner puts me out late at nite, I jump the fence when noone sees me and I quickly snatch a shoe!…jumping back I carefully lay it on the patio…next nite, I do the same and grab the other! Wow, that was easy! Noone knows! Sunday morning I’m lying in the sun with those wonderful shoes and OOPS!…Gary’s on his deck looking at me…but, he’s smiling…he’s going to let me keep them! What a great guy…I’m in heaven…
lol!
I had the most wonderful pair of Weejuns for 20+ years that were my fav; had them since sophomore year of high school and they were the best, never wore out! Oh, there were a few deep creases caused by normal use but the soles only showed a little sign of wear and due to saddle soap the leather was soft and pliable.
Trouble was, the husband half of close friends of ours was a “new shoe” freak and hated my faithful Weejuns; he always sneered whenever I wore them, saying how sad and tired they looked and I should throw them away; “my” faithful Weejuns!!!
Then came moving day in ’84 and ,although we had movers, new shoe freak surprisingly showed to lend a “helping hand” to my husband, who was overseeing the project. Mysteriously, I never found my faithful Weejuns after our move, for apparently helping hand helped himself to my Weejuns and spirited them away. Although we all knew what their fate was, new shoe freak denied it and swore they must have gotten lost until his dying day! lol To date I have never found adequit replacements for my wonderful “lost” Weejuns:(
This man would no longer be my friend. . . .
No worries; shortly thereafter he crossed over to the Dark Side by violating his marital vows so his wife wisely severed her ties with him, resulting in severing ours!
So I tho I commented on this one but I guess I didn’t. I don’t like shoe shopping I hate it really. I have small feet so I have to go into the kid section to find the right pair. Sometimes the sales people say Im a size 3 and I’ll be like no get me a 4 or 5. It’s so hard forr me to find shoes. I have one pair of heels, one pair of flats, one pair of running shoes and one pair of dress shoes that is all I need. 4 pairs depending on where Im going i decide which to wear which usually are running shoes but i can’t wear those to a wedding.