What I've learned about feet, so far

These things are as handy as, like, hands.

If they don't work, you're in a mess.

If they hurt, you're in a mess.

We assume we can walk.  We assume you have balance.  We assume you have a certain shoe size.


Well, squash all of our assumptions.


My first clue was when Pete was playing baseball at age 13.  We had bought the latest Nike whatever's prior to the season.  He was a size 11.

About 4 weeks into the season, Pete did something unusual.  He complained about his shoes.  He was not the guy wanting new shoes just to show off.  He said, "Dad, my feet are hurting.  I think there's something wrong with my shoes."

I said something like, "Pshaw".

He kept complaining.  So, we went to the store.

His frigging feet had grown from size 11 to size 13 in six weeks.  No wonder the child's feet hurt.


I think I sorta obtained puberty about age 23.  I wore size 10.5.  I bought Cole Hahn shoes in loafers, dress shoes, etc. out the ass.

I went on to buy other stupid expensive shoes size 10.5 for years.

It's inexplicable to me, but I am now a size 13.  All of those friggin shoes I bought are now either in the hands of my son or son-in-law who were 10.5.  They are worthless to me.  I hope they love those Armani white suedes like I did.

It took me years to understand that I was a pronater.  And, that I had plantar fasciitis.

My fucking feet hurt for years playing golf, softball, basketball, racquetball, tennis and whatever else I attempted.

It's only in the last three years that I've discovered that I'm not alone.  This is not a commercial message, but Vionic shoes have given me peace.  My feet don't hurt anymore.


I grew up in and still live in the South.  It doesn't get really cold here.

For years, I wore flip-flops.  The cheap $2 version.

Until I went to see the foot guy at the Carrell Clinic.  They are the bone guys that treat the Dallas Cowboys, Phil Mickelson and hundreds of other professional athletes.

"Satan's shoes."  That was what the good doctor said to me when I showed up with a complaint about plantar fasciitis.  "They keep me in business.  No support.  Easy to slide on.  Glad you're here."

I do have to insert that I met a great man, Stephen Holley.  He was a Navy SEAL.  He wore flip-flops or sandals everyday.  He explained to me that guys in combat wore sandals everyday they weren't in combat so that their feet would heal.  Stephen wears Hari Mari's most days.  He is and will always be an inspiration to me.  Including my footwear.

So, then the business side of me got intrigued at the Carrell Clinic.  "Doc, what kind of shoes bring you the most business?"

"High heels.  They position a woman's foot in an angle they were never meant to be."

In a town that has a Jimmy Choo store and a high index of Christian Laboutin wearers, he's golden.


I've observed my sweet wife suffer from years of high heels.  I've seen my kids with issues from inappropriate sized or styled shoes.

Our feet are our touch point of the world.  We need to understand our friggin feet and get the right shoes.

Peace and love and happy feet to you all.