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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Age resistant

Had I been able, I would have grown old wearing three inch heels.  I love seeing grey haired women in crisp trousers and jackets.  And heels.  I don’t even have grey hair.  The last time I wore heels was at my daughter’s wedding.  That was twelve years ago and they were the only pair I had saved, my beautiful Victorian boots with two inch heels.


The earrings were wonderful.  Corkscrew, ear specific.  I gave them to Shelly during the reception.  It had been so long since I wore earrings, even gold, they hurt.  The ring is my Grandma Rolf’s engagement ring.  A bloodstone cabochon, our birthstone. It’s put by for Caroline.

No, when I left the corner office (actually, a hallway passed my office in two directions) in 1988, my three inch heels were idled.  Can’t weave in them, could drive eight hours in them, but would have to change to sneakers to offload hundreds of pounds from my van and set up a show.  They just weren’t practical.  I did wear nice sneakers or nice Mary Jane’s at my shows.

Probably the fall I retired.  With Linda and her daughter Cara, right after Linda’s mastectomy.  Cotton was all she could stand to wear.  Fortunately, I wove cotton.  My Mary Jane’s were toward the end of their road.

I retired to get a new hip.  I stood right up against the wall and the technician measured me at 5’6”.  Which I was. That was to leave my leg the correct length on the operating table.  I remained 5’6” for another couple of years.  Then I started limping.  I was down to 5’5”, except where I had a titanium hip and thigh bone.  I put a quarter inch lift in my right shoe.

A couple years after that I fractured my back.  It involved a lot of stupidity on my part.  Now I ask those nice clerks to lift a carton of copy paper into my cart.  That was like getting on the down escalator for height. 

So, I’m 5’4”, and definitely in the vertically challenged group.  Adding the stroke to that, well…as they reminded me when they discharged me from physical therapy, I’m not a stable woman.  Give me a cane and I can get through Ikea with Beth and Caroline any day.  As long as my current pair of sneakers have gone to the shoemaker to have the sole sliced apart and a half inch rise inserted.  Actually, that’s pretty cool.  He just slices through the sole, glues on a half inch piece the same color, glues the sliced off piece back on and hey presto, both my legs reach the ground simultaneously.

I’m still fussy about shoes.  I like suede sneakers in the winter; far warmer.  Right now I’m wearing red canvas sneakers and have black and white plaid sneakers in my closet.  Oh, and a beautiful pair of oxfords for weddings and funerals and meetings.

But, my winter New Balance suede sneakers are pretty disreputable after several winters of snow and slush in the parking lot.  I went looking for a new pair.  They’re called Retro.  They haven’t been to my shoemaker, yet.

So, I’ll be seventy next March, and still have three inch heels.  Made in the USA.  Me and the shoes.  Thank you New Balance.


Now, about the grey hair...




24 comments:

  1. They are the funkiest pair I have ever seen!
    Love love love Victorian boots!
    Jane x

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  2. They are great looking trainers - very cool!

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  3. you're still taller than I am lol

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  4. I'm still 5"4". and happy to be that height. No heels for me. I tried to wear them when I was young but they hurt my feet too much. How stupid was that, I thought, to wear shoes that in essence make you a cripple. mostly I try not to wear shoes at all.

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    1. Yes, I read about bare feet and backyard copperheads.

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  5. You will never grow old, never ever. Any one who can wear any of the items mentioned is destined to be young inside. I love the New Balance shoes. I have a 'normal' pair myself.

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  6. I love your new retro shoes Joanne. It said on the telly that 70 is the new 40 so there you go!

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  7. Very snazzy indeed! I like your style.

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  8. I used to be 5'4" but shrank to 5'1-1/2" in the years after both hips were replaced and my spine compressed. The worst part of getting shorter is that the belly pooches out a lot more. This is true for guys as well. I remember looking at the Sears catalog as a kid and wishing I could get a pair of cheerleader's boots but I've never owned a pair in my life. I probably would have been uncomfortable in them anyway. It's nice you got to wear them when you did.

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  9. You've done a remarkable job of telling your life story right here with your shoes. Love it. My family runs tall (I'm 6'1",) but even the tall ones folded over with osteoporosis. I guess the size of the body has nothing to do with the capacity of the heart! We can all choose that. Keep weaving, keep those 3"ers, keep writing, keep in touch with your heart! Hooray!!

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    1. In my next life I will be that tall. Don't care about anything else, but I will be that tall.

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  10. What a fantastic story - I think you're amazing. I broke my ankle about 15 months ago and have JUST got back into my heels but not with the same confidence. I love the idea of snazzy sneakers. xx

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  11. Love your sneaks!!!!! I never wore more than two-inch heels. Why? I used to be 5'10". Now I tell people that I'm 5'9 1/4" and shrinking and that eventually I might actually be a normal sized girl!!!! And yeah, I'm the poster child for osteoporosis. These days I wear what they call "comfort sandals" from Clarks or Tevya. They are pretty but they live up to their name.

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  12. The New Balances are the bomb diggity. I am 49 and went grey this year. I was so tired of fighting it and it is what is. I have never worn heels so you are something serious to me in three inch heels.

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  13. you made me smile with this... at a time I have not wanted to smile
    thank you x

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  14. I LOVE your colorful new shoes!

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  15. Flipping that first digit - that's always fun. People are typically nice about the age thing, but honestly I thought you were younger. You write younger. Who knows what medical adventures await me but it good to know others before me have taken it in stride. Doesn't matter that the stride includes a cane, you are still moving.
    all the best.

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  16. From reading your archives you sound like the Energizer bunny to me, and this post proves it :)

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  17. I'm with jenny_o. I had dreams to being 5 foot 2. And I was briefly. I grew eight inches in a year, and two the following. I am now 5 foot 10 or so. And listening to you - you are taller than me in all the things (attitude, zest for life) that matter.

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  18. I have a real thing for Victorian boots. Never owned a pair, but coveted many. What a great way to tell a life story. Using shoes. Very, very clever! Really enjoyed this post. I've decided that you are hardy. I like that word. Hardy. So expressive! :)

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  19. Just found your blog... but don't know how to follow it? Anyway, Bill calls me "Imelda" ... probably not spelled right, but you probably know who he means... and why ;-) I WANT a pair of those colorful sneakers! Looking forward to future blogs... I love it when I find a good one!

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  20. Just goes to show you never know what trials and tribulations a person has gone through in their life by looking at them. What type of shows did you do?

    I gave up heels a long time ago too, with plantar fasciitis and a bad back I wear dr. scholls (what I call old lady shoes) black and slip on with good arch support and enclosed not open. I buy a couple of pair at a time in case they stop making them. I've always had a hard time finding shoes that fit, I need a wide front and narrow back shoe. I have two canes in case my back gets bad again and I have a grabber that can reach and pick up things high and low (I'm 5ft 2 inch and always have been) well I might be less now, Ha. and a few stray gray hairs so far.

    Yes Diane is right you are hardy, that word sounds so country wholesome somehow, keep on keeping on, really enjoying your writing.

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  21. I love those sneakers! I buy New Balance too, because they're the only brand wide enough for my short feet, but I've never seen any as colourful as those. Boring white leather with pink or blue trim is all we get out here. May I save the picture and take it in to the store next time I shop for shoes?

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  22. that's pretty funny! love the height of those new balances!! I am 5 foot flat and only wear flats so my kids always think they are tall.

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