Remember the former Philipine First Lady, Imelda Marcos? The one with about 1,200 pairs of shoes? Well, I am not Imedla Marcos. The shoes in my sketch were my effort at high fashion, Barbie shoes, I called them. I saw high school girls flouncing all over school in them, women at resorts clamboring into boats with them, and I thought, "If they can, I can." I couldn't. I couldn't stand the way they clattered on sidewalks and slapped my heels. I couldn't stand the blisters across the top of my size 9AA foot, or the aching back. In fact, I could hardly stand at all. So I would put them on in the closet, pose in front of the mirror, and then put them backon the shelf. Finally I put them in the Goodwill bag. I am no Barbie - or Imelda.
I have some dressier shoes from my teaching days. It was always a challenge to find shoes that looked "professional" and still had some style and were comfortable enough to walk blocks and blocks, as I did every day in my rather large high school. So, I have some black mid height shoes, some dressier sandals, a couple of pairs of boots with heels in the low to mid height range. I have one pair of high heels I thought would dress up jeans, but I soon realized they were only practical for sitting sipping a cocktail, not walking anywhere. I did buy a trendy pair of linen colored wedges, but they mostly sit on the shelf looking cute. I can walk in them, so that's a plus.
These days my shoe choices are more practical. I wear my Birkies, three pairs in different colors for different pairs of jeans or shorts I might choose, a pair of brown Eastland brogans that keep my tootsies warm and dry when that is what is required. I have the newer cleaner pair of New Balance athletic shoes for my time at the athletic (arthritic?) club, and older pair for around the house, and a still older pair for the garden. I have my moosehide Minnetonka slippers, which will soon need a decent burial, and a equally well worn pair of Clarks clogs that also probably should be retired with honors. And that's it. One of the nice things about retirement for me is the way my needs are getting simpler and simpler. No more Barbie shoes for this Boomer.
8 comments:
I love those shoes! I agree about the "Barbie shoes", they really are only good for sipping cocktails. You're really catching up on the challenges. They are all just great.
Funny you should mention shoes. I was just thinking the other day how perfectly content I am to live without them! I tried being fashionable once while I was working (head teller in a bank -- on my feet most of the day), and by noon I felt like if I didn't soon get those blasted things off my feet, by the end of the day I'd be walking around on bloody stumps. And this was after I'd practiced walking around in those things for a few days just to be sure I could do it. Now I prefer no shoes at all, and my feet thank me every single day -- really! They do!
I love these shoes - and the story. I'm with you - no Barbie shoes for me either. I had to wear heels to a wedding recently and it was about all I could do not to kick them off in church.... Anywhoo. This is an amazing sketch. All those little dots must have taken you hours. I hope it was meditative, because the result is beautiful.
Stunning drawing.
These shoes are just so gorgeous!! What a geat job you did on them.
I really, really, really, like this drawing. I love all the little dots as shading. I'm kind of into that myself right now.
Great post and drawing, Sherry!! I love the pointillism effect. I'm past the high heel days too. :)
Great stippling! Awesome sketch. I was one of those that wore heels when I was younger, but I am rather content to live my life in my Tevas. I'm not barbie either. You can't mountain bike in heels!
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