Meet my Feet.

Meet my Feet.

(Picture taken at the top of a mountain. I climbed it to find beauty, instead I found the remains of everyone's impulsiveness. It takes a second to decide to throw trash on the ground, and a lifetime to clean it up.) 

Back to My Feet

If you've ever met my feet, they probably came running up to you (with the rest of me) and stood, shifting from side to side, or tapping as I introduced myself and questioned who you were. You probably never noticed them. They often go unnoticed, so that is why I am here to introduce you to them. For they are a major part of who I am. 

My feet, Left and Right, infinitely love to run barefoot. The feeling of fresh grass is their favorite to frolic in, but they aren't shy, they love the feeling of sharp gravel as they run across it, slick mud as it squishes beneath their toes, even hot sand, as it sears into the sole and squeaks under each foot with a gentle run along the beach. 

My feet have been inseparable since day one, experiencing almost everything together (except for a few mishaps, in which they both endured alone, but had each others support (moral and literal)

They've been to the top of many mountains, paddled along down many streams and lakes. They've climbed trees, ran for miles, walked for even longer. My Left foot has traveled to countless countries, as has my Right. They've stood barefoot on the dirty streets of Nicaragua and my toes have been stained from the red dirt of Jamaica. They've almost frozen to death in London, and danced in the sunshine of Greece. In Israel they stepped into a pair of camel leather sandals for the first time, not realizing these would become their faithful companion for years down the road. They grew up on American soil, crossing into Canada with a bounce and a hop. They have stood on the shores of Turkey, They've run through the streets of Kurdistan. Walked along the bank of Palestine. In France they ran around the home of a dear friend, playing hide-n-seek with her children. In Iraq they stood on broken and shattered tile floors. They've touched the raging waters of Costa Rica and swam in the salt of the Caribbean sea. They grew up with the familiar of the sound of the Pacific Ocean, and the Atlantic not far behind. They've stood patiently in the Tigris as I was baptized, and jumped eagerly into the Mediterranean. They even floated for but a brief moment in the Dead Sea. And yet, with all my feet have experienced and felt, they still never have left me. And for that I am grateful. 

It would have been difficult to discover so many places and people without the use of my two trusty steeds. They have so many stories of their own to tell, and yet, they carry me wherever and whenever I want. To the top of 14ers, to the bottom of staircases.  Their pretty good at what they do. However, as stated before, their have been mishaps. My left foot has been twisted at least twice to my memory, very possibly more. It's leg, attached just above it, has been broken once. It was not my foots fault, but it didn't do it's job in protecting my leg either. My knee was greatly hurt in a car accident, also not my foots fault, but my feet didn't stay still enough for a proper healing, and it took years for the knee to re-trust the feet (their relationship is still a little wobbly.) My right foot, on the other hand, has been a lot more of a hooligan. Its been twisted more times than I can count, in boring ways like jumping off swings, jumping over my sister, jumping for joy... you know, things like that.... along with a very terrible 3rd degree sprain caused by sledding, and another more recent injury which was accompanied by me jumping off of a couch, and my foot finally telling me that he has had enough. I've majorly injured if not broke my little toe multiple times, once it being caught under a metal guard of a bathroom door at flying speeds, and a few months later it was rammed into a concrete curve in the pitch black night. It took a good 2 years for that to heal. Speaking of my heal, apparently I also have had the occurrence and re-occurrence of a corn that liked to hitch hike with me. A corn, for those who don't know, is like a very painful mixture of a callus and inflamed skin, in this case it found its home on my heal, for months of endless pain. Yes, my feet have had some mishaps, just a few here and there, I know there are many who have had far worse feet tragedies. Also, upon recent discovery I've learned my feet apparently have a slight condition of bunions. This is actually common in those with flat feet, but the sound of it resonates as a hideous lump, oozing with pus and a crusty outside crust.. This is not the case. My big toe bone is just more a little more inward than those without bunions. Really not anything to be concerned about.

Despite the mishaps, I'd say the finest feature of my feet are the toes. Not because of beauty or looks, but because of skill. I highly enjoy using my toes to pick things up, move things from place to place, I've even brushed my teeth, using my toes to maneuver the toothbrush. If you ask people who have met my feet, they would probably also say that I have a mean pinch in between my big and second big toes, that's a force to be recon with. I've won many leg fights with my little sister back in the day, which mainly consisted of kicking and slapping each other with our feet.. great fun.. and a great workout. And as for the toe pinching, I learned that from my older sister. 

My feet have also walked their way through many pairs of shoes.. many. I often get attached to my shoes, and wear them until they are completely unwearable anymore... I prefer it that way. And as much as I love my feet, I have never been one to spoil them with expensive shoes. My most recent purchase was a pair of Vans, on sale for $30, that is the most I have ever spent on a pair of shoes... if you think about it, that is $15 entire dollars for each foot. I'd say they should feel extremely loved. 

For your enjoyment, and the last half of this post, I've composed a Photo Journal of some of my favorite pairs of shoes in the past. Starting oldest to newest: Enjoy.

2013: The Clown Shoes

These started out as plain while tennis shoes. My Junior year of Highschool I decided to make the best out of the boring hand-me-down's and used them as a canvass for my expression. They lasted into the summer when they were destroyed by weeding fields and ocean water.

2014: My All Time Favorites

These were bought at a goodwill in Oregon, the beginning of my Senior year of high school. To this day, these still are my favorite. High-top, off-brand, black and white with a Velcro strip at the top. (The Montero in the back round was the car I started the school year off with, later to be totaled.) 

2015: The Red Coogi's

By the time I graduated in 2015, I was driving vintage Cadillac and found this pair of red Australian Coogi High-top shoes at a local goodwill. (These lasted well into my 20's) 

2016: Barefoot Bliss

This picture was captured while I was in Jamaica, true as ever, I'm barefoot.

2016: The Moon Shoes

These shoes lived in Colorado. I wish I had a better picture of them. Also purchased at Goodwill, they were grey High-Tops with a moon-boot sort of top to them. I played many games of basketball in them. They eventually got holes in the toes, and also were destroyed by weeding fields. 

2017: First Converse

I finally bought my first pair of Converse shoes. Bran new, from Ross (they were on sale) and I still have them. They started out as Navy and now are more of a very faded grey/blue. 

2017: The Floppers

I decided to share this picture as well because these were bought in the men's section at Walmart, and I still wear them, and their amazing. 

2017: The Quilted High-Tops

These were awesome. I ran all around Greece with them. Navy/black with leather accents. High-Tops with a moon-boot top. These were well worn and ended up being tied together and tossed into a tree.

2018: Hikers

Brown leather boots. Orange laces. I came across them in a trash pile in Greece. Dirty, sopping wet, and ready to be thrown out. I saw potential, took them home, gave them TLC and they havn't given up on me yet. I still hike in them.

2018: Samels

We bought camel leather sandals in Israel, and then rode a Camel named Sam. Therefore forever dubbed our Sandals as Samels. Still sturdy, amazing sandals!

2018: High-Top Converse

I loved my converse so much, and of course, high-tops, so I got the best of both worlds. These were a gift, a friend drove me to town, gave me money, and told me I couldn't leave until I spent it. These shoes were the outcome. They were worn and worn and worn and had a slow, terrible death as each sole broke loose and my toes had little built in vents from all the holes.

2020: Vans

I bought my first ever pair of Vans. Brown High-tops, on sale at the local mall. It took me a while to finally give in and pay the $15 per shoe, but I got a free sticker, so it kinda made it all worth it. I think I'll grow to love these shoes, as I have with all my other pairs, slowly but surely. 

Now you have officially met my feet. Next time you see them, say Hi. 

The End.

 (I now just realize, I didn't have a different pair for shoes for 2019... That must be why my High-top converse wore out so much.. they never got a break.)