I Wish I Had Duck Feet
I have two issues I’m dealing with and I think this book might be a part of the problem and the solution.
Problem
Well this is not really a problem, but I’m starting to wonder how come every time I go to the library I find another book that reminds me of my childhood. I said it before, here, I hardly remember any childhood memories, and yet, the library seems to hold the days of my life. My mother told me we grew up poor, but I didn’t know we lived at the library, poor. Every time I find a book, it’s like one of those cryptic ink blots with a secret message inside. I can’t wait to see which book reminds me of our family photo album and the story it has to tell.
Solution
My 2nd problem, turned solution, is that above book is an unauthorized biography that just might solve my shoe problems. Previously I touched on the reasons why I Can’t Afford to Be a Woman Anymore, it’s just too darn expensive and I don’t even look all that great, I just want to look halfway decent. I can almost find pants long enough to reach past my ankles, but I have a hard time finding shoes for my size 10, sometimes 11 feet. If I do find a pair of shoes, you know they’re so close to ugly that they’re touching. Cute shoes stop at size 8.5 anything past that is just lucky.
I ordered a pair of shoes online and they arrived yesterday, the heel was a little higher than what I normally wear, but I said if they fit, I will walk on stilts! They didn’t fit because of a gap around the arch area so I exchanged them for a narrow pair. I have nothing to lose, but hope.
Now I’m looking at the title of this book thinking this little boy is on to something, maybe I should wish for me some duck feet. What did I do, I made a list of the pros vs. cons…
Pros
- No more shopping for shoes. No more shoes period.
- I would not have to worry about getting my feet wet in bad weather.
- No more darn scuff marks.
- Pedicures would be a thing of the past.
- I would be a “shoe-in” for the olympic swim team.
Cons
- I would get runs in all my pantyhose.
- I would be the modern day version of Carrie (they’re all gonna laugh at you).
- I couldn’t curl my toes.
- I’d walk like a duck. (but at least I wouldn’t be pigeon toed)
- I would not be permitted in to most restaurants.
….and people wonder why I wear the same shoes everyday, because they fit! Do you have a hard to buy for body part?
Subscribe in a Reader
Subscribe via Email
Subscribe Via Podcast
My name is Valerie aka Natural and I will be writing about whatever is on my mind. I love teaching, dialogue, sharing and making people laugh. I never know what I'll share here but this is me, Thinking Out Loud.
Hi Natural,
I don’t think it matters what size feet you have. If a pair of shoes isn’t comfortable the first time I put them on, I won’t buy them……sometimes it takes a long time to find a pair that are comfortable and stylish…and I can’t wear flip flops in the winter.
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..How To Get and/or Add A Gravatar To Your Post Comments
My feet are tough to buy for. I wear a size 15W shoe and simply locating a non-outrageously priced pair is pretty rough. I love my feet but I refuse to drop $150 or more when a lucky day at Wal-Mart and a Dr. Scholl’s insert gets me gellin’ out the door just as comfortable at a fraction of the cost.
Michael Beck’s last blog post..Do you remember to eat breakfast?
How cute is that! Although the runs in the pantyhose would suck something awful.
I have a very very very bad shoe addiction with well over 100 pairs of shoes to my name. I blame my mother. But you are right, it’s hard to find anything cute over an 8.5… why is that?
Monique’s last blog post..You Think You Know #13
Love your blog! I just popped over from The Junk Drawer.
I have narrow feet with long, skinny toes - shoes don’t stay on my feet unless they’re laced up like ice-skates. Boots are always too big and I can’t wear any sort of high heel for longer than, oh, about 10 minutes. I wear crocs everywhere and my husband finds them embarrassing as they are fuchsia pink!
I used to have no problem finding pants, but since I hit peri-menopause, no pants fit me except my husband’s black and white athletic pants which no one wants to see me in at church, or the grocery store or at a family dinner - especially with the saggy butt and the way the cat fur just clings to that lovely shiny fabric.
(I remember “I Wish That I Had Duck Feet”…and I can tell you why…)
Kat
Poetikat’s last blog post..Friday Flashback Part 3
LOL I can feel your pain. I wear 9’s but not a wide. I have such a hard time finding a 9 that is even remotely cute and it seems that most 9’s are made for wide feet, so then if I happen upon a cute pair, it may look like a pair of boats on my long, but slim feet. LOL
You have a great blog here. I’ll be stopping by whenever I can.
Mommy2Lots’s last blog post..Homeschooling in California: Legal Update
I wear a size 10 as well, but I never have a hard time finding shoes I like or look good on me. But then I think it depends on the type of shoe. I wear tennis shoes and sandals mostly with the occasional “nice” shoe if I’m going somewhere that’s not the grocery store or a friend’s house.
I also have flat feet so I find that shoes with a strap across work well for that. I can’t do flats which is annoying because I’ve seen some that are very cute.
I think the hardest thing for me is a nice bra. My chest isn’t exactly small and I need something that offers comfort and support. I own only a few bras but they make me look good. The downside is… wear and tear. I’d like to have support and comfort and still… you know… look *cough* sexy. And why in the hell is underwear so expensive? Seriously… you can waste half a paycheck replenishing your supply!
Jillian’s last blog post..A Short Story In Link Form… Because I Can
I don’t have a shoe fitting problem only that I can not afford most of the shoes here. An average pair of shoes cost $70 on a good day. My hardest body part to fit would be my thighs - gosh I hate them. I have to settle for stretchy everything.
Tondy’s last blog post..It got me thinking?
I think we talked about this and you are taller than I am (I’m 5 foot 8.5) and I struggle, STRUGGLE I tell you, to find pants long enough. If I am lucky enough to find them long enough in the dressing room, the promptly shrink in the dryer.
I am not an amazon people. I’m really not *that* tall, but I always have an issue finding pants that are long enough. Frequently, with my track pants (the black ones with the white line down the side) I have to pull them down so the crotch hangs low and my ankles have coverage.
Very annoying.
p.s. I am a cheapskate, as well. So I don’t want to have to pay $70 for a pair of specialty pants.
cardiogirl’s last blog post..Terms of endearment — take ‘em or leave ‘em?
Finding a good pair of shoes is hard, even for guys. I usually buy skateboarder shoes because they’re both wide and comfortable. I also get comments on them like “nice shell toes man” even though I don’t really associate myself with the skateboarder crowd.
Adio’s are the best in my opinion, as they have great padding and you can beat the heck out of them.
Blue Sunshine’s last blog post..Elliot Spitzer’s Prostitute Looks Like Matt Hardy
How very adorable is this and so true. I always find that I can never find the great looking shoe and comfort. So I settle for a “blah” shoe to be comfortable. I often wonder how others do!
Mags’s last blog post..10 Ways to Deal with Road Rage
Barbara, I know it doesn’t matter, my shoes are comfortable, they just don’t fit. I won’t wear shoes that hurt me feet either.
Wow Michael, so you probably have a hard time finding shoes too. I’m assuming shoe makers expect men to have larger feet, but not women. I know that’s what my feet want, some expensive shoes and it’s not going to happen.
Monique, you have over 100 pairs of shoes!!! That’s probably more than I had in my lifetime. I’m sure I don’t have more than 15 that I can still wear.
Hi Poetikat, welcome to Thinking Out Loud, glad to have you here. I’m Junk Draw fan too. We sound like we have the same type of feet. I’m so not a fan of crocs. Your husband will be the one looking in the closet saying: I don’t have a thing to wear. lol.
Mommy2Lots, it’s really discouraging. I used to be able to find shoes and I was a size 9 and narrow, but now my feet are 10/11…do they ever stop growing. I know tell me about the boats. People would look at my feet in some shoes and comment on the length, like I need to hear it out loud. If I wear heels, I can’t distract them, lol…but flats are for floating boats!
Jillian, I have no problem with tennis shoes, I have 2 pair, one for the gym and one for roughing around in…it’s the dress shoes that are hard to find. I don’t need a bra, really, lol. Someone was talking bras on this radio show I listen to, forget where, but they were 90$ a pop. At that price, I would have to share a bra with someone. Joint custody! Every other weekends.
Tondy, an average of $70 bucks huh. I try not to buy them too cheap because I need them to last, but I don’t like to flirt with 70$ either. I might have to pinch some pennies and bite the bullet for something more expensive, but not now. I’ll just keep wearing my old raggedy faithfuls.
CardioGirl, I won’t talk about the pant thing. I’m not that tall either, taller than average, but come on. I think about the shrinkage thing too and then the added pounds, you lose length.
Here the Blue Sunshine, really guys have problems too? Shaq maybe, he wears a 22! Wow. Never heard of skateboarder shoes, will have to look those up, although I’m sure they won’t go with any of my suits.
Mags, it’s difficult and discouraging. If I do find a shoe, I try to buy it in different colors and “stock” up on them. Right now I’m in need of shoes, 3 pair would be a nice start, your basic black, navy and brown. I also better stop driving in my shoes.
Natural’s last blog post..I Wish I Had Duck Feet
If I had duck feet I would become a bare foot waterskiing champion…
Eric “Speedcat Hollydale”’s last blog post..Beaver Powerbook Cleaver & Eddie Haskelskins
Finding a pair of wearable and comfy shoes is no longer an easy exercise. I just can’t imagine being in many of the ladies shoes nowadays - the killer heels and all!
Evelyn’s last blog post..How To Deal With Negative Emotions By Ajahn Brahm
Eric and I’m sure you would win too!
Evelyn, I didn’t know I was the only one with this problem. I thought it was discrimination of some kind. A good pair of shoes is hard to find.
Footware seems to be a pervasive issue. It’s the old “they can put a man on the moon but…” I have one foot a whole inch shorter than the other, and both feet are wide and high. I’m loving me some Crocs right now but I know they won’t fashion acceptable forever. It’s even questionable now but they are so comfortable AND they fit.
Mrs SudsMuffin’s last blog post..More Incense Made Up
I don’t know Mrs. SudsMuffin. I just hate paying money for shoes that really don’t fit, but sometimes I don’t have a choice and have to buy what almost fits.
What a great post. I empathize completely. Before I had my son, I was an 8.5, my feet stretched (probably because of the 100 lbs that I gained), he’s born and BAM, I’m a size 10. Flash forward 13 years - The 100 lbs. came off but the size 10 shoe never did. I wear the same shoes all the time. Although I have found some great sandals in my size with lots of frilly feminine stuff.
Wonderfully written post, thanks for the great read.
Pam’s last blog post..A long week….
Thanks Pam and you’re welcome. I still haven’t found a pair of shoes yet. I hate that I have on a nice outfit and busted up shoes, lol. I hope I can find a pair this weekend or next week some time. I’m still in the hunt…any shoemakers out there who need a model with big feet?
Hi Natural
I work in a profession that dishes out footwear advice to clients with bad feet.
To be honest it’s becoming more and more difficult as the footwear inductry pushes footwear sales to more of a ‘disposable’ commodity to get people to buy more and more shoes.
It is long past the days when my mother would make me wear shoes over athletic shoes…..companies like Asics are investing shoe fit as a selling point whereas shoe manufacturing compaies are only interested in volume and not the customer.
Sad but true.
Dave
I’m sure they do FLAT FEET, I so hard for me to find a good pair of shoes that fit and don’t cost a fortune. Thanks for stopping by.
I made the mistake of buying some shoes online and I can honestly say that I will never venture out onto the internet to buy a pair of shoes because they are always different from the image and rarely feel great. I wear a size 9 1/2 and it sucks because there really isn’t very much to choose from past size 8. I have always wanted a pair of high, to the knee, boots but everytime I get a pair I can never zip up the side due to my fat calves. Oh well maybe another time. Cute book by the way, all the golden books that I see remind me of my childhood, coincidently I don’t have too many childhood memories either.
Camilla’s last blog post..Derfor begyndte jeg at købe tøj online
Camilla, I buy a lot of my shoes online. I just know I can’t find my size in the store. They don’t make shoes for women with big feet…it’s like we don’t deserve to have shoes if we can’t fit into a size 7 or 8. I have a few pairs in my shopping cart now I need to check out. I really need some comfortable, great looking loafers that don’t cost 100’s of dollars. one shoe 125$…kidding me. I better be able to eat it when it wears out. The shoes I like are expensive…the shoes I can afford and almost fit is what I buy. Don’t have the heart to spend 100’s on a pair of shoes.
I wear size 11, if they are made well I used to do size 9.5 or 10…haven’t had a pair of shoes like that in a while
what happened to our childhood memories. I remember very little. that’s sad. i really only got a memory when I had something worth remembering…..
thanks for stopping by!