FUNNY FEET & NON-LEATHER FOOTWEAR

The rest of the day fell into a “what passes for normal” routine and I was able to sit down and do what I had actually planned – write an article about my feet and the challenge of finding synthetic shoes to accommodate said feet.

My odd feet have been an issue for me for as long as I can remember. They are not that long, have very high arches and are kind of wide-maybe a bit like hobbit feet without all the fur. I sort of walk on the outside of my feet which causes my shoes to become a bit misshapen over time. My two brothers (bless their hearts) used to say that my feet and shoes looked like kidneys. But I try not to hold grudges, so I have moved on. When I was nineteen, I sprained my right ankle for the first time, one of many over the years – that along with some other skeletal issues   have left me with  very few options for footwear. So when I heard k.d. Lang mention how she hated plastic shoes, it struck a chord with me.

What do vegans do when veganism becomes impractical at the very least or a health issue, for instance? Up until this September I had a collection of very carefully chosen shoes for my funny feet-around twenty five pairs of leather shoes-you know the old jokes about women and their shoe collections. I imagine that my count was probably quite modest. I had Birkenstocks for the summer, flat shoes for casual wear and several low heeled shoes for dress-up, and a couple of pairs of winter boots, all geared for comfort and safety. But wearing this leather footwear bothered me every time I put it on. So I rounded up all of it and took it to NOVA, our equivalent of the VON, for them to sell in their thrift shop, the proceeds of which help support the wonderful nursing care they provide.

So now, what to do? I need some shoes, so I started my hunt while on holiday in Victoria, BC and was directed to a shoe store with loads of synthetic shoes. My husband and I were on our way to the airport, so we were in a bit of a rush. I explained my needs to the very kind salesperson and she directed me to some non-leather shoes. I chose three pair and we raced out of there. The two pair of sneaks are great, but the pair of dress shoes are not – they are leather. I discover this sometime after I get home. I can’t take them back, so I chalk it up to experience. I decide that I cannot wear them even if they are cute and new.

Based on her advice I purchased some sneaks, a pair of winter boots made by Sorrel, and a pair of fall type desert boots. The desert boots are suede and now sit in my closet, unused.
This is when I went online and discovered the little tag which must be sewn into all pairs of shoes, outlining the materials with which the shoes are made. Voila, all of a sudden, I sincerely hope that I can rely on myself to buy shoes that, as far as I know, are synthetic.