AW GEE-- AGAIN ??? AND SKECHERS

Probably shouldn't tell these tales on myself but I'd rather I told them then someone else. The best defense is a good offense, the reversal of sports.

There is no real shopping in my small town so we are forced to travel to Little Rock or Branson Missouri. Neither fosters impulse buying for both are a 5 hour round trip. I stay away from Little Rock but Branson is usually a fun, all day trip which my support group loves to take. We shop, eat and giggle all day.

My everyday shoes are sneakers or walking shoes for comfort. I have to wear orthotics so there has to be room for them and the shoe can't have arch supports which will mess up the orthotics. Yeah, I know--- picky.

I get black for winter and white for summer. Thinking I was out of shoes and on my last pair of white, a trip to Branson was called for. Most of my support group was doing something else for July so I decided to go alone.

I enjoy the trip. It really is quite a lovely drive and Branson is a fun town with a couple of outlet malls. I was delighted to find my shoes had not been discontinued so I bought 4 pair. Then I saw the Skecher store and decided to try on those “shape up” shoes I had seen advertised. They have a banana shaped sole.

These shoes are entertainment in themselves. They remind me of when I was a kid and we would jam our shoes on a tin can, hammer the ends up to attach to the soles, then clomp up and down the streets feeling tall and being really noisy. Ah, good ole low tech fun.

Like the tin cans, with Skechers, there feels like a big wad is under your arch and rocking backwards has to be guarded against. As advertised, it truly is an instant posture adjustment primarily to maintain your balance. Wow, I was sold. When you have been a runt all your life, feeling even a little taller is wonderful. Pretty sure in Skechers, I am back up to my preshrinking height.

So I packed up my 5 pair of shoes and after hitting a few other stores, took my treasures home. I was really feeling pleased with myself till I started to put my shoes away in the closet. I have a tiny closet that I have to slide in sideways to get my clothes. I keep my extra daily shoes in the boxes, against the wall beneath the hanging clothes.

As I pushed clothes aside and bent down, I was stunned to see I all ready had 5 unopened shoe boxes. Oh I really was out of the white as I thought , my mind didn't go completely off track. However I still had 1 black pair, 1 tan and 3 off white, in unopened boxes that I had no recollection of even buying. I now have ten pair of single purpose shoes. At my age, they will probably become part of my estate.

As you can see, I now have them pulled away from the wall and very visible. Try fooling me again you rascally mind.

Looking at my collection, I was feeling a bit like I did at Christmas when I decided I did not recognize my own glasses and refused to claim those butt ugly frames. A little better this time however for while I am still embarrassed, at least I am set for shoes. Mostly likely, when these are gone, I'll just be shuffling around in bunny slippers all day anyway.

So it appears my mind has played with me again. It knows me so well and fools me at its leisure. Fortunately I am still able to chuckle as I shake my head in wonder at my decline. The aging process is definitely not boring.

QUICK PLUG HERE FOR SKECHERS TONE UPS

Sadly they do not come in widths for my scrawny feet so I have to double sock it. They are wonderful if not particularly flattering. Think clunky. However, besides making you walk with perfect posture and improving your balance, they work a whole new set of muscles.

Walking up hill is a real challenge. Just taking a step is no longer automatic. Perhaps in time that will change. They are quite heavy and the rolling motion really works out your calves and butt. I see killer calves and buns of steel in my future.

One really good thing is that I had been at a weight loss plateau and just in two days on the Skechers, I have dropped another pound. I do caution that you don't try a 5 mile walk the first time you put them on. They recommend only using them for a half an hour or so at first to get used to them. I dropped to a 2 mile walk for a few days and am now ready for my 3 mile walk. For those of you who don't like sneakers, they do come in sandals.

For some reason, I noticed I unconsciously sucked in my stomach as I stretch taller and straighter. Another big plus. The computer has turned me into a real sloucher and the good thing is that the effect of the posture adjustment lasts a while after the shoes are put away.

Main draw back I can see, besides fashion statement, it that I'm pretty sure running would be impossible in them. If anything sinister approaches me on my walks, I'm resigned that it will just have to catch me. If it is a bear or dog, I hope they choke on my buns of steel.