Sole searching.....

So, I'm wondering.....why is it that I...and alot of women....absolutely love (and live for) shoes?

Being the shoe mogul that I am....you'd think I'd have this all figured out. Wrong. All I know is that I love shoes. Always have. Always will. Forever and ever and ever and ever. For all of eternity. I shall love shoes until they bury me in a great pair of shoes.

For sure, I'm not alone in my shoe adoration. I have sole sisters all over the place. Trust me, I've looked into their eyes and I've seen what's on their feet. I know them when I see them---no matter where I am. But, the ultimate high is seeing a kindred spirit in the shoe store. Oh yes, there's no denying a true sole sister in a shoe store. There's that very special look in their eyes, the little tilt of their mouths, the raise in their eye brows and the gentle reach of their hands as they reach out to....touch THE shoes. I can hear them thinking as I walk by them. I know what their head feels like...that little buzz.... I know what their heart feels like...as it pounds within their chests. I can feel the excitement that stirs deep within them and the tingling sensations they are feeling all over their bodies. Yes, there are so many of us....an entire universal sorority of shoe lovers who are dedicated to, invested in and completely immersed in shoe love, shoe lust and shoe bondage.

And there's more--I've actually met and befriended people because of their shoes. I've walked up to strangers in restaurants and department stores and funeral homes and concerts and PTA meetings just to tell them that I love their shoes....and to ask...."where did you get them?" I've stopped meetings because of shoes. I've squealed in libraries because of shoes. Yes, I've even drooled over shoes---in church. Plus, I've even comprimised by values.....because of shoes. I'm hopeless....when it comes to shoes.

But you know, I don't really feel all that badly about my affliction. I mean, not really. Oh sure, I might feel a little pained when I try to get from my door to my bed in the dark and trip over...not one...but several pair of shoes. But, I soon get over it. Hell, people have made careers out of their love of shoes. Think Sex In the City. I mean, this shoe love thing is big. Very big. There are shoe stores as big as parking garages all over the planet. And, they are staying in business. They are weathering the recession. They are doing okay. Because they sell shoes. They feed women like nothing else can. True shoe loving women will stay well-heeled despite rising gas prices and slumping stocks. For the love of shoes....some women will skip breakfast, lunch and dinner every other Wednesday (and every other Thursday if need be).....just to own the shoes of their hearts' desire. I know...because I am one of them. Thankfully, I haven't had to do that....yet. But, I would if I had to. Yes, dear friends, it's all about shoes. But....why?

Typically, I don't do alot of this self-analysis when it comes to my love of shoes. I accept it without question. But, a visit to one of my fav blogs got me to thinking about all of it and the phenomenon it has become. This particular blog is not about shoes or fashion. Although it's a known among the blogger's readers that the blogger loves shoes, we do not go there because of that. We come to her blog because she is an inspiring and talented woman who has weathered quite a few storms during her blogging time yet she is determined to live a beautiful life. We all root for her. Plus, she has a wonderful style about her. She restores furniture, she bakes cupcakes, she decorates her home, she loves junk.....oh, I could go on and on. What I'm trying to say is that here's this woman who never really writes about shoes and doesn't have readers coming to her blog because of shoes and yesterday she posted a picture of her new shoes (leopard stihletto peep toes...yum) and everyone was all a twitter. Readers left comments saying that they were drooling, they were in love, etc. Readers who come there to take a peep at her latest junking transformations or her latest cupcake adventures or to hear about her decorating....were gaga over shoes. Me included. So, it got me to thinking.....why do women love shoes? Are shoes like girlfriends.....they will never do you wrong and you can't have enough of them? Or, is it like this---a man can buy you diamonds but can't buy you shoes? Only you can buy YOU shoes. Maybe diamonds are a girls' best friend and shoes are a woman's best friend. Perhaps it's a little of all of that and a few other things. All I know is this....I love my shoes....they have never left me, they don't scream at me, they don't talk back to me, they ask nothing of me, they have never been unfaithful to me and they always stay right where I put them....
No wonder I love shoes....

And, here's my favorite shoe shopping partner.....my sole daughter...
Homecoming '08.....