Do you remember the days when you walked around in 4″ heels and did not give it a second thought?  Well I do.  I used to walk around NYC with my 4″ Charles Jourdans and Manolo’s like it was the most natural and comfortable thing in the world.  Well, let me tell you.   It certainly is not a comfortable or doable thing at the ripe old age of 66.

A little history here.  My mother was turning 90 and we were giving her a big party.  I wanted to look great and so I ordered a fabulous Carmen Marc Valo dress.  It was gorgeous and really deserved some totally sexy shoes.  So, off I went to the shoe store.   I tried many pairs of shoes on and went back to the store at least 3 times.  I kept looking at these absolutely dead sexy shoes and finally I put them on for a walk around the store.  Well, the salesperson totally picked up on me!

Now, I was wearing my linen overalls and of course, no make up, when I went on this particular journey.  The salesperson  just got what was going on in my head and as I was parading around the shoe aisle in these amazing shoes, she said “Girl!!!  You know you can rock those shoes.”  Well, of course I could not resist!  So, off to the check out counter I went with my ridiculously high and expensive shoes.

So, I haven’t walked in high heels in many years.  I don’t even want to think how long ago I actually wore heels.  I am a sandals and slides girl.  Always flat shoes. Well, here I was with a pair of shoes I knew I could not walk in.  You may wonder – yep – I could barely stand in them and I bought them anyway.  I decided that I needed to practice walking in the shoes.  So, one day, I put them on and sat at my desk.  Yes, sat at my desk.  My feet were in an unbelievable position – not comfortable for sure.  Every once in a while I would stand and walk around the office.  Not a big space!  Then I would sit down.  Yep – spent most of the hour I had them on, sitting.

Lunchtime came and I put the shoes in the box and went downstairs to have lunch.  I made lunch, sat down, ate, watched Young and Restless and then tried – the operative word here – to get up.  The pain was so intense I lost my breath.  I sat down – actually I was never up!  I tried again and the same thing happened – I was bent in half in agonies.  Mind you, I had to go to work.  I had to drive 30 minutes to an appointment that would require me to sit and stand and sit again on the drive home – another 30 minutes at least.  I tried to stand and it required some creativity to stand up straight.  Remember those breathing lessons you had at lamaze.  Well, that is what it took.  Lots of huffing and puffing and in and out, exhale and inhale etc   It was a miracle but I did stand up.  Then the thought cam, how do I sit in the car and stand after I arrive.  They do say necessity is the mother of invention and I am no slouch there.  I took a chill bar that you put in the cooler and wrapped it in a towel and put it behind my back when I sat in the car.  The cold helped and I was able to stand when I got there.  However, the worry was I would not be able to stand when it was time to leave so, into the appointment went the towel and I has an hilarious conversation with my client and her friend and all went well.  I was able to get into the car and go home without much further ado.

The next day, those beautiful shoes went back to the store and a more sensible pair was purchased.  Sadness enveloped me for about a second as the box went back but reality is a hard thing to deal with.  But reality is reality and my body said no more high heels for you!

It I knew how to add another photo – I would show you the dress with the new shoes.  Pretty shoes but not sexy shoes.  I guess those days are a thing of the past.  Hard to come to terms with the new reality but reality it is.

I wonder how many others have had this experience.  Hope you had a good laugh at my expense.  Many have!

Talk with you soon.

Leslie