My Dad left this world almost eight years, but in my mind, I hear his voice and I think about him daily when I get dressed and put on my socks and shoes.
Dad had a thing about keeping your feet healthy! It dated from his time served in the infantry during the Korean War. He would tell me and my siblings about the men he knew who did not take care of their feet and ended up with gangrene and amputation. Many men in the military end up what is called trench foot. And my Dad, having seen victims of this, was always emphasizing good foot care.
I cannot tell you how many times he told me that “when your feet hurt everything hurts.” This was always emphasized when we got new shoes. My Uncle Jack was the manager of a shoe store in Yonkers, New York. Whenever we needed shoes, we would make that journey from New Jersey.
Uncle Jack was insistent that our feet fit correctly in the shoes. He would measure and remeasure and check our toes. When my Dad’s embroidery business failed, Dad worked in the shoe store for a while. He became as crazy about shoes fitting as Uncle Jack. As a teen and young adult, when I went to buy shoes, Dad always cautioned that the shoe’s toe bed should be big enough for my toes; never cramped; and never ever wear shoes that were too small.
The shoe store was important for other reasons, besides providing jobs and teaching a skill. In fact, my oldest cousin and my brother eventually worked in a shoe store in Monticello during the summers. (See blog below.).
The stacks of the store’s storage room have additional importance for me. When my husband and I became engaged, my Dad and Uncle told my husband to be not to buy a ring, they would help. Uncle Jack had a great friend, or perhaps distant relative also named Jack, who was a diamond dealer. He met us in the stacks of the shoe store carrying a shoe box filled with diamond rings. No one knew there were diamonds there. When he left it looked like he purchased a pair of shoes. For me the shoe store in Yonkers provided shoes and diamonds, and provides a great story on how I got my engagement ring.
I digress, so back to feet!
Another rule was: “Never wear wet socks. When your feet get wet, dry them and change your socks as soon as possible.” This one was often said when we ran around outside in the Catskills, especially after a rain or when the dew was thick in the mornings. Dad would rather we ran around barefoot in the rain, then wear sneakers and wet socks. It was wet socks on soldiers that led to the trench foot conditions that impacted their lives. To this day, I would rather wear sandals in the summer and waterproof boots in the winter to keep me away from wet socks!
When my Dad was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, he started visiting a podiatrist once a month to keep his feet in good shape. On my Mom’s side, we had an elderly relative who lost his legs due to diabetes. That was not going to happen to my Dad. (see blog below.)
This emphasis on feet came to mind because of a chat I had with three friends. We were at one friend’s house watching an important football game, when the topic of bunions came up, as one had bunion surgery and another was contemplating the same surgery. My three friends were talking about their feet and the aches and pains and shoes that they were concerned about.
I said nothing at first. But I was thinking about a recent experience. I had been on a cruise that entailed much difficult walking. As a reward to myself, I had a foot massage and reflexology on the ship. The young man who provided my service, kept commenting on my beautiful feet. He told me was expecting really ugly bunion ridden feet because of my age. My feet astonished him. (See blog about walking below.)
My beautiful feet enjoying Florida.
So finally, I joined the conversation, “I don’t have bunions. My feet are in good shape. In fact, they have been called beautiful.” They insisted I take off my shoes and show off my feet. Which I did. The friend who just had her foot surgery said, “You do have beautiful feet. Your feet look like the photo the doctor showed of how feet should look.”
I told them that I owe my beautiful feet to both genetics and my Dad’s constant reminders about foot care. Each morning, I dry my feet and put a healing lotion on them. Once a month I get a pedicure and a massage. I never wear wet shoes or wet socks. I make sure my shoes fit correctly. I do not wear high heels or pointed toes.
In my mind, I see my Dad smiling at me as I continue to follow his sage advice and remember Uncle Jack’s shoe store. And feel blessed that I do not need foot surgery!
https://zicharonot.com/2014/03/18/the-great-shoe-catastrophe/
https://zicharonot.com/2019/12/05/childhood-events-definitely-impact-my-adult-choices/
https://zicharonot.com/2015/07/10/walking-my-way-through-the-perils-of-stone-pathways-in-europe/
zicharonot 
I think that avoiding high heels and tight shoes may be the biggest factor in not getting bunions. I also avoid both like the plague (I never could learn to walk in heels and am glad I am now old enough that no one notices that I don’t!). But my daughters both where stilletto heels, and their feet are so ugly! Mine are damn cute, if I do say so myself.
Your dad was very wise.
Yes I agree, I think shoes are a big factor!
Great, fun post with some shoe store memories myself … I could hear my father and his fit care warnings in your post 🙂 (he too was in the Korean war) He was big on ‘wearing ‘rubbers’ when it rained. Shoe shopping is simply not the same and wasn’t even when raising my kids.
I think the cold and snow of the Korean War really got to them. My father always commented on the cold. And I think of Korea as being warm!! Glad it brought back memories.
Oh to find shoes that fit! I wear sandals nearly all the time, with one pair of shoes for going out (they are purple!) Your feet certainly are beautiful. Unfortunately my dad had hammer toes and I have inherited this problem (also have inherited his wonky lower teeth!) I could have done with your relatives to help me find good shoes!
Feet and shoes were very important. Sorry about the hammer toes. My Mom actually had those as well. But they skipped me!
You’re lucky!