Let's Talk Shoes….

Let’s talk shoes. This week I was asked to participate in a promotional video for work. My portion probably lasted about 10 seconds, but it was still very exciting. The first script I read had me walking forward to join the key note speaker. I freaked out (just a bit)! What shoes would I wear? Was the surface where we were shooting on level ground? Would I stumble or look strange walking?

Should I wear sneakers for security or wear flats for fashion. And then due to my walking gait, would I make a sound as I walk. Do any of you remember watching “Sixteen Candles”? There is this moment during the wedding scene towards the end when the organist walks through the church with a loud, obvious swishing sound. What if I make that annoying sound and it is picked up in the video?

I went for the shoes, and as luck would have it, they chose to have us all sit through the whole video. Thank goodness! All that worry for nothing! I was so relieved. Of course, I could have told them my concern, but that would have been too easy. Or really, it would have been too hard. Sometimes it is hard to share a concern related to my disability. My concern seems silly or embarrassing or I feel I am sharing too much, especially at work. But really, that’s a story for another day.

Once I was gracefully settled in my chair, I started to observe the shoes of those around me. This is what I call shoe envy. There was the high wedge heel, the black strap sandal and the basic flat. Best pair was worn by the video producer. She wore these funky heels with blue and white stripes. They matched her shirt and pulled her outfit together. Each person managed to maneuver well in their fashionable shoes. No tumbles or missteps. Always amazes me when someone walks fast in heels with ease. Even when I was younger and my disability hadn’t kicked in, I couldn’t walk in high heels. However, I did have college friends who would easily travel all across campus in high heels.

I did have some fun shoes back in the day! My niece reminds me how she used to love going through my closet and to try on my funky shoes. It was a fun mode of expression. These days, I’m glad to be walking, observing all those different shoes and strides around me and using my blog for expression!