Blue Suede Shoes and an Elephant's Eye in Traffic

I have to confess to having had a problem with shoes for some time. Indeed, I even recall buying a pair of lovely blue suede shoes (don’t mock, they were the height of fashion at the time) while being empowered by ‘flowers’ in San Francisco in the late sixties. I had a hole in my shoe (a phenomenon later immortalised by Traffic in their song, aptly titled ‘Hole in my Shoe’) which necessitated acquiring a new pair urgently. Unfortunately, the initial interaction between a pair of shoes and my feet resembles that of a rodeo cowboy trying to tame a bucking bronco. Suffice it to say that the sores occasioned by this bare ‘bunion’ ride left my poor toes and heels in such a state that I had to go around with bare feet carrying the aforementioned clogs in front of me. Of course, this did not cause me any severe embarrassment, as nudity of the feet was considered passe at the time compared to the other areas of the body which were readily on display. Anyway, a simple flower, tucked into the forelocks was a testament to ‘cool’ man, so no problem. Alas, this problem has persisted over the intervening years as my feet continue to rebel against the introduction of even the lightest form of moccasin footwear. Thus, even the thought of acquiring any new pair of shoes has left me ‘looking at the sky with an elephant’s eye’ as it were, trying to find salvation in heavenly intervention. What makes matters worse is that I no longer can be considered ‘cool’ by being seen walking the streets in bare feet with my shoes under my arm and my ever receding hairline provides little in the way of comfort zone for a flower or indeed anything else! Thus, I was in despair for some time and even considered in Irish parlance ‘taking to the bed’ to avoid heading out with sore feet. But Hallelujah! My problem is solved! By accident on holiday I came across a pair of GEOX shoes which fitted like a glove! This is not meant as an indirect endorsement of these shoe makers, for as they say on TV, no money has changed hands in this matter. Rather it is an affirmation of the importance of well fitted and comfortable footwear. The Ladies among you may choose to hobble around on stilted heels as a fashion statement but I care for comfort and style in equal measure. I feel like climbing a bubblegum tree and shouting GEOX! GEOX! to my heart and Feet’s content!!

Part Lyrics of Traffic Song: ‘Hole in my Shoe’

“I looked at the sky where an elephant’s eye
Was looking at me from a bubblegum tree,
And all that I knew was a hole in my shoe,
Was letting in Water.”

Note: This post is best enjoyed while watching 'Blue Suede Shoes' by Elvis on U-Tube