I have a lovely next door neighbor, the one I've mentioned before who was so kind to feed me during my illness earlier this year. She and I visited across the fence the day I was going to work in the back yard (yesterday's post). She expressed concern that I was wearing sandals because she had observed several snakes in her back yard, and had killed one she described as a "ground rattler" on her patio. I eased her mind by assuring her that I would dig out and don my snake-resistant "rubber boots" before beginning my tasks. I'm happy to say I didn't observe any snakes anywhere in my yard, but there are some unmowed areas where they might be lurking. I suppose it doesn't hurt anything to be cautious.
My person, as seen by a charitable observer, would be described as "matronly." I'm well padded from my shoulders to my knees, but that's where the padding stops. I still have trim calves and ankles (I think), and long and extremely narrow feet. Both my father and mother had very slender feet and, evidently, I inherited a double dose of genes which resulted in my having "spaghetti feet." I've never in my whole life had a pair of shoes that really, truly fit.
I used to dream of running away to Italy and ordering ten pairs of custom-made shoes, a luxury which has been denied me, so far, and with no prospects of it happening in my lifetime. I make do with what I can find, locally and on the Internet, but even a 4-A (slim-slim) shoe is still far too wide. I must have been behind the door when God passed out size 7-B feet.
Gardening Daughter also has skinny feet, but not quite so narrow as mine. When I was responsible for keeping her shod, it was quite a challenge to find shoes for her that came anywhere close to being a good fit. My other two daughters can buy shoes almost anywhere, as their feet are "normal." I'm jealous.
As you might imagine, my boots don't fit my feet, either. I have to wear three pairs of socks just to keep them from falling off.
*someone with wider feet
