The Love of Functional Shoes and Bare Feet

Short humor

Like most women, I have had a long love affair with shoes. Mine however has not been one with designer names, pretty bows, or flattering shapes. I have always loved shoes with a function and a purpose. I admire shoes that never doubt who they are. Therefore, I have always loved activities that required special shoes. I suppose so my feet never doubt what they are about to do.

My very first pair of beloved shoes were red cowboy boots. I wore them to the rodeo, to play in, to sleep in,  and I would have worn them into the bath if I could've gotten away with it. My feet were perpetually prepared to ride horses, or line dance. Next came my running shoes quickly followed by a pair of track shoes. These had but one purpose and my feet knew that it was to make the rest of my body suffer mercilessly.

When I first started college, a boyfriend bought me a pair of candy apple red white polka-dot pumps to match a dress for the spring formal. Give me a break, it was the eighties. The relationship was short-lived, but I did learn that even seemingly frivolous shoes could have a function too.

As the years have gone by, I find my closet cluttered with ski boots, golf shoes, nursing shoes, cycling shoes, hiking boots, fishing waders, diving boots, army boots, operating room clogs, and multiple pairs of running shoes. All has been as it should be in my world of functional shoes. Then the problem arose. What do I wear when I write? Slippers seemed a logical choice, however my feet just got too hot. Maybe flip-flops or sandals. These prove uncomfortable and distracting. My love for writing is without question, however my feet are uncertain what we are preparing to undertake.

Suddenly it became clear. Unwinding around the house, I go barefoot. My feet are never confused by this. Therefore, I should just forgo the shoes when I write. As much as I have tried to convince others that I am working when I am writing, it is truly relaxing. I remember much younger years when I used to remove my track shoes and risk getting my toes stepped on. I would fly happily around the track as if bounding through the jungle unrestrained, lighthearted, and free. Unhampered by convention and dreaming freely, this is how I wish to write.

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

My guess is that mankind's love affair with shoes goes way, way back, and they were invented shortly after the loin cloth and grass skirt. Surely, it must be embedded in our dna. What's puzzling to me is how much more embedded it must be in the female as compared to the male. Someone (my wife) keeps buying them for me, but I only ever wear two pair. Uh-oh...I feel the angry eyes of Imelda Marcos, glaring at me from the afterlife.
On your writing--I think it's excellent.

[DL Shackleford]

Thank you for commenting. I think shoes can be cute, sexy, whimsical...but on other people. I agree shoes are much more important to women, unless of course you are Jimmy Choo-then you are just a cruel man becoming wealthy from making shoe loving women suffer.

[Temerity]

I don't really have much input on this, to be honest. I just thought that you ought to know that I sincerely enjoyed this and that I share your love of barefootedness as well as your love of useful footwear. More importantly, this was written really well and with a lot of wit and humor. Really, there's something even sentimental about it. Thanks for writing this, it made me smile. :)

[DL Shackleford]

Thank you for commenting, so glad it made you smile.

[Holly Mason]

fictional?
either way it is written well...
barefoot is always the best-to me
I make shoeless shoes -strands of plastic all colors throw some beads on one toe hole for the big toe slip it over your ankle and wha la...I get a lot of complements on them*)
like the personal touches through out -like the red polka dot pumps*)
interesting subject choice
thank you for sharing

[DL Shackleford]

Some truth, lots of creative license. The red cowboy boots were real and the only shoes I have ever liked. The pumps, real as well, stayed on my feet only breify and I have never owned another pair. And yes, used to run barefoot...I have great calluses. haha. Your shoeless shoes sound right up my alley.