I have had foot and leg problems for as long as I can remember. I am crazy pigeon-toed. This was a major source of embarrassment and led to consistent teasing all the way through college. I have totally accepted it as an adult, but I still sometimes daydream about life as a normal walker and wonder what it would have been like if I had had corrective surgery as a child. When my legs are tired, it becomes a lot more pronounced.
I have a hard time finding just the right shoes. My feet are also a little on the sweaty side, so any Skecher-type of shoe sans socks is out of the question. Also, it appears that my right hoof is a tiny bit bigger than the left, thereby making it just a bit more difficult to find the perfect pair.
So, in summary: a pigeon-toed, sweaty beast with mis-matched feet implores you for advice.
Teeter Much?
I have never been able to wear heels; I am tall enough, and no one needs to see someone with my particular gait lurching about precariously on high heels. I have managed to learn to wear a chunky heel for a short period of time to certain events, but no way can I wear a heel for any length of time. I have to be so careful, though. I bought an expensive pair of low-heeled short boots for Paris. I wore them for over 16 hours and they tore my feet up. I never want to go through that again.
What is up, Old Gal?
I wore cheap shoes all through my twenties, and I am sure that has contributed to my foot problems. I finally started wearing Clarks for my last ten years of teaching; elementary teachers know that you are pretty much running all day, and Clarks were the only brand I could wear comfortably for a long time. The problem? They are not exactly fashionable. When one of my non-teacher friends visited the schoolhouse, she looked at my feet and said, "Oh. Do they serve an orthopedic function?"
Kicks
When I retired three years ago, Spencer was still in residency and money was tight. We didn't travel at all. So, for those final years in Atlanta, I wore my Nike tennis shoes every day (I would go to the gym and run around the neighborhood, and that was the bulk of my daily outings) and my feet were okay. Now, with Spencer's schedule, we are finally realizing our dream of traveling the world. We love to stay in the middle of the action and walk every where. The problem? I am in serious need of fashionable, comfortable walking shoes. I now reserve my tennis shoes for working out.
And if you happen to say, "Who cares what you wear, just be comfortable!" I will answer that I do care. I want to look nice and be comfortable.
Boots with the Fur
I have one pair of shoes that always gets me by. When I wear these Uggs, I can walk for many miles and have absolutely no issues. It is glorious! Me, walking comfortably! You can squint your eyes and almost picture me living my dream.
The problem? One simply cannot wear Uggs 24-7. They don't go with everything, and sometimes they don't do well in wet climates or dressy situations. Or summer in the South.
So, friends. Help a gal out. What is your favorite walking shoe for the summer season? Do you have a dressier boot that you can walk a million steps in comfortably? Me, and my dogs, would love, love, love any suggestions.
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