Because she was an avid gardener, my mother loved changing seasons. And shoes. The woman loved a fun pair of shoes.
Throughout her adult life, whenever she started a new journey, whether a new job, a new home, or a road trip, my mother commemorated the changing season with a new pair of shoes. And if it were a big change, she would purchase shoes and a new Bible.
When she was sick, she would buy a new pair with every new loss—loss of mobility, loss of outings, loss of energy. She recognized that while the change was hard, God was good. For a person who could not walk, she had lots of shoes.
For her memorial, I got a new pair of shoes in a color she loved. When I moved to Tennessee, I purchased rain boots. When I started back to school to get my doctorate…shoes.
If you are starting a new journey today, my mother would encourage you to stop by the store and celebrate the change.
–Tricia
…
This morning as I was putting on my shoes, I chuckled to myself, remembering pre ALS “Day of Diagnosis” when I was struggling with a dropping left foot. Then, wisely, my doctor ordered my first foot brace since I had made several very gallant and graceful falls at work, once, unexpectedly, onto a student’s lap. At this point, I had already spent a year visiting a Chiropractor, an Acupuncturist, and a variety of other medical specialists, including two MRIs and two EMGs and many blood samples.
The fellow who was fitting me with my first brace (I am sure he has a great title, but I don’t remember what it is) was very gracious to me as I explained to him that I had chosen to be angry (isn’t anger usually a choice?) with him since it was obviously his fault and was personally responsible for limiting my selection of cute shoes. He shared a laugh with me as he sent me out to find very practical, less-than-cute shoes that would accommodate my brace. So now, I have a brace for each foot, and I get to choose between three different shoes, the same style but fortunately different colors. As a Life Coach, I will remind you that even little things can make you smile. It is your choice.
–Susan