HIGH HEELED SHOES

This weekend I wore a new pair of shoes to go out and before I knew it my feet were very uncomfortable. The sad part is that they are very good shoes although I bought them at a bargain basement price. (Do any of you remember bargain basements?) As I was walking to my car I began to think about my life with high heels. I don't think I have ever had a pair that were entirely comfortable but I have continued to wear them anyway ever since I was a young gal.

I remember to this day one of the first pair of high heels that I had. They were red baby doll pumps and probably less than 5 bucks at the local low end shoe store. I really loved those shoes but they soon were out of style and I had to keep up with the latest trend. Incidentally, baby doll shoes have become a fashion statement again. I don't know what they are called now but the toes are squared off like a Mac truck. A few years later the style shifted to really pointy toes--the kind that are good for killing spiders in the corner. They too have again become fashionable again. I do refuse to buy them because they really do a number on your toes unless you buy them in a larger size and even then they are not really comfortable. During my high heel period of life I have had shoes in all colors, styles and fabrics.

I have a pair of high heels still in my closet that I have had for probably 20 years. These days they are a full size too small. They have moderately pointed toes and are made of black suede with a black satin rosette in the front. They are just too classy to give up and I would almost bet that they will remain in my closet forever. After all, one pair of shoes doesn't take up too much space unless you are traveling. If I needed to I would wear them and endure the pain if the occasion called for them. I certainly wouldn't be dancing in them though.

Sometime in the late 1960's I became familiar with the shoe designer Etienne Aigner. People in southern Indiana, probably to this day, do not know how to pronouce his French name and so called him Agner. The first Aigner shoes that I had were a combination of camel colored leather and beige linen. I had the purse to match and they were great business looking accessories. They would still be great looking for a business wardrobe.

I think my most favorite shoe of all times has been the spectator pump usually made in a combination of black patent leather and white leather. They have always looked great in the summertime and I would probably buy a pair tomorrow if they were to come back in style. The closest thing to the spectator that I have now is a pair of black patent shoes with toes and heels out and a bow across the front made of black and white polka dot grosgrain ribbon. They look good. I've always thought that black and white polka dots were very good looking. I wear a silk jacket with b/w polka dots and wear the shoes with it.

I don't wear stiletto heels anymore but I still wear 2 and a half inch to 3 inch heels--depending on how you measure heel height--when I want to feel dressed up. I mostly buy heelless and toeless shoes and had to go up half a size when I moved to Florida. Only old ladies wear nylons in Florida so I wouldn't be caught dead in a pair, of course. That and the heat is why I buy the larger size shoes.

I have tried all my adult life to wear tennis shoes--walking, running shoes--and have yet to wear a pair that are totally comfortable and call out to me to be worn. Since heels are no less comfortable than tennies then I vote for heels. They really do look best unless you are gardening or working out.

I seldom ever buy shoes because I need them but rather because I really like them or think they would look good with something in my wardrobe. I never buy shoes to go with only one thing. That would be way too extravagant. Seldom do I ever wear out a pair of shoes but rather grow tired of them after a few years and pass them on to someone.

So I guess pride and fashion sense win out over comfortable shoes. Women really do endure a lot of pain to look good. I will save my thoughts on girdles for a later post and continue to wear high heels. I hope that I will always be able to wear good looking shoes and probably will unless I'm in danger of falling over.

These are my thoughts on shoes and I'm sticking to high heels.

PEACEFUL SUNDAY

It has been a peaceful Sunday here on my front. Not much doing except church. When I got to church for the early service I looked at the music I had chosen to play for today and for the life of me couldn't figure why I chose the particular pieces that I did but I played them anyway. Sometimes I think I could play the same thing every Sunday and some people would not know the difference.


This afternoon has consisted of leftover Mexican lunch from earlier in the week which was better than when I had it origionally, a few PBS current event panels and a nice nap. Tonight will be more of the same except popcorn and a movie and Foyle's War on PBS.

Alas, I did not go for my swim today because of laziness, pure and simple, but tomorrow is a new day with the promise of better behavior.

Those of you whose blogs I rely on for some news from you need to get on the stick and write a few lines. It is interesting to your readers even if you think your everyday doings don't mean much. When you don't post, a lot of the good stuff slips by like the fact that I am being held hostage by little black ants in my kitchen right now. Help! What do I do besides stand there with the spray bottle? Today I'm winning. Tomorrow they may all be back. Well, as I said earlier, tomorrow is another day.

THE WHOLE SHEBANG

It is a fun movie to watch on the 4th of July, "The Whole Shebang," starring Stanley Tucci. Actually, a friend and I watched it after having been to a movie and a Mexican dinner at a place called Abuelos which my friend says means grandfathers. So I had a delicious meal and learned another Spanish word which brings me to about 5 now.

The movie we saw today was "License to Wed" with Robin Williams playing the minister. I believe that there has been some criticism of the way he plays the character, probably by the religious right, but although very humorous there was a lot of truth revealed in his way of doing marriage counseling. It seems that most things today which get at the heart of some moral or social concern has some element that chooses to criticize and thus rob individuals of a chance to learn something.

It has been a rainy day here but there have been fireworks going off all around in spite of the dampness. In my neighborhood they will probably be going most of the night and for several days to come.

Gotta go. Mexican tonight, you know.