Some women have a thing for handbags/purses/pocketbooks—whatever you want t0 call them.  I’m not one of them.  I appreciate them.  I love a nice leather one, but my needs are fairly simple.  For most of the year it needs to hold my wallet, my phone, a nail file.  If it holds my chapstick, that’s a plus.

In the summer I need a bigger bag.  It needs to hold all of the above plus my camera, a pair or two of socks for bowling, and some medical release forms.  Sometime, I have to carry other people’s wallets as well as their medicines, and their water bottles. My summers are a little more complicated than the rest of the year.

My preferred splurge fits on my feet—shoes.  I love them.  I understand why some women have 10 different pairs of black shoes.  I’m sure I have at least 4 different pairs of black shoes.  At least.

While I love looking at an outrageous pair of heels, I can’t wear them.  Even before the Achilles debacle, I couldn’t wear them . . . mostly because I can’t walk in them.  And face it, if you’re putting on shoes chances are there’s some walking involved.  If I put on outrageous heels, there would be falling involved.  Recent history would lead you to believe there would also be surgery involved.

Not buying outrageous heels, hasn’t really limited my shoe choices.  My super large feet limit my choices a bit, but you’d never know from looking in my closet.  I have lots and lots of shoes.  I have heels I can wear.  I have ballet flats.  I have Birkenstocks.  I have running shoes.  I have Mock Crocs.  I have K-swiss soccer kicks.  I have old Chacos.  I have new Chacos. Open toed, close toed, open back, closed back, snow l boots, tall riding boots, hiking boots —they reside in my closet.

Right now I don’t wear any of them.  I can’t.

I’m limited to tie shoes; they lend strength and stability to my weak leg.  While I do have a few pairs of shoes that tie, only one pair is at all comfortable.  I tried wearing my old, comfy trail shoes a few weeks ago; incredible pain ensued.  A few days later I thought I’d try my K-Swiss kicks.  Nope.  That was worse.  I actually considered crawling down the hall to the bathroom.  So, my tie brown leather Sketchers are my daily companions.

When I first figured out my shoe limitation, I was bummed.  Wearing one pair of shoes every day just doesn’t seem like a great deal to me.  (It’s also a bit wardrobe limiting.)  It took me a day or two of moping before I realized I had huge reasons to be thankful.

First of all, I’m out of the boot and my shoes match!  Secondly,I can walk on my own two feet without the aid of a crutch or my fantastic knee scooter. Thirdly,  I have a pair of shoes I can wear without much pain.  Fourthly, there are plenty of people in the world who would be grateful for just one pair of shoes.  Fifthly, I got some jeans on an amazing sale (really, they almost paid me take them) a few years ago; they get a lot of use these days.

One day the Sketchers will sit on the shelf while the other shoes get to go out.  Right now, it’s me and my Sketchers; and I’m thankful I have them.

What are you thankful for today?