We've all heard the expression, "He/she has some big shoes to fill!" The image conjures up someone filling an important job or office of a predecessor who had done an excellent job; or a chubby toddler clumsily trying on oversized adult shoes.
An article I read in a woman's magazine about the hazards of the very tall stiletto heels' popularity described foot problems from serious falls, broken ankles and bunions. The article casually mentioned that men can be pretty satisfied with owning no more than three pairs of shoes; one pair of brown, one pair of black and a casual sport shoe. The article went on to imply, jokingly, that women, on the other hand, can jumpstart the economy because they need at least one or two pairs of shoes for each outfit they own. This includes heels, flats and anything in between, plus different colors in vogue; boots, booties, open toed, closed, pumps, T-straps, Mary Jane's, and, of course, flip flops, as well as comfortable exercise and walking shoes!
This attention on shoes reminded me of the year we came to the U.S. as immigrants. We first came to New York with just a few items to tide us over until we got to our permanent destination. We left cold and snowy Germany in February wearing heavy boots, sweaters and coats and arrived in New York where there was at least a foot of snow. Then, we were on our way to California. Upon arriving at Union Station in L.A., we were surprised to discover that there was no snow, only bright sunshine and warm spring-like weather. Most people were dressed for spring. I recall getting some strange looks as we crossed the street to get to our new apartment.
Knowing that we were to start school in the next few days, my mother took my sister and me to the nearest Goodwill to find shoes appropriate for the Southern California weather. Being a girl and nine years old, there wasn't much available for me that day. My mother picked out a pair of black patent leather oxfords she thought would suffice. We took them home and I wore them to school the next day with some new white bobby socks. Along with my long, blonde braids, tied with white ribbons into bows, and my black, sparkly, shiny, patent leather shoes, I must have probably stood out, or so I gathered, as I was being stared at and pointed to.
On my walk home from school that first day I made two decisions: First, the ill-fitting shoes had to go! Second, to wear my hair loose and no ribbons! While waiting for the light to change a few blocks from our apartment, I sat down on some brick stairs and ceremoniously took off my shiny, black shoes, one at at time, and respectfully left them on the bottom step. I turned, gave them a mischievous smile, quickly took off my socks, and with a skip and a hop, ran home barefooted to get my comfortable boots out from under the bed to ready them for wearing to school tomorrow!
