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I'm Dreaming of Two Matching Shoes

The good news is that my foot is healing well. The less good news is that I'm still dreaming of two matching shoes. This is my status quo...


One sneaker and one surgical shoe eagerly eye winter boots...

...and a vast assortment of shoes. 

Right now two matching shoes are fourteen days away and that stretches like eternity. But when I think about fourteen days as the mature, rational being that I am, fourteen days is a blink, especially when I remember the lesson of my braces. 

It's Hartford, 1965. I'd gone from having the worst buck teeth in New England to perfect teeth. This miracle occurred by the wonder of modern orthodontia. I wore braces for four years and a retainer for one year at night. My parents had gone without to make this happen and I knew I was lucky, but I wasn't especially grateful. I couldn't wait for the day when I no longer had to wear my retainer, and I'm sure I complained bitterly about it.  

Dr. Freeman, my orthodontist strongly recommended that I wear the retainer through high school, three endless years. I'm sure I was hysterical at the thought and I'm sure my mother was tired of listening to my histrionics. I stopped wearing my retainer and was thrilled about it. Fast forward four decades and my perfect teeth are no longer perfect. There has been a small, but obvious shift. I'll never know if there's a connection to my retainer or if teeth just shift, but if I had listened to Dr. Freeman. I might have avoided it.  

Remembering the lesson of my braces and so many other issues when I didn't take expert or simply sensible advice, I am wearing my surgical shoe and being grateful for my thoughtful, conservative orthopedist. I really do trust his judgement and at 63 I am worried about possible long-term issues. But I still would love to get back to exercise class with two matching sneakers. One day...  

Is there advice that you wish you had taken?

As always, thanks for visiting. Please stop by later today for another trip to the Buttercupland Fair. We've got a big treat there. I hope you're enjoying the autumn and take good care of yourself. Sweet dreams! 

10 comments

It's me said...

Enjoy the day..it looks nice two different shoes.....my husband always wear two different socks...because he like that....so more strange people on this world ...)))..love Ria..x !

Nadine_Feldman said...

I didn't wear my retainer long enough, either, and one front tooth sticks out, just like it did before the braces. Fortunately, my bite didn't change back. Good point, though, as you deal with your foot, to think back on the impatience of youth. Aging has definitely given me more ability to stick with the program, regardless of the situation.

Nancy said...

A loaded question Carol! Let's see... shouldn't have married him like my parents advised; shouldn't have started smoking; should have taken better care of my skin... shall I continue?

All of these have been remedied (except the wrinkles) so it's all good I guess. And 14 days? Cinchy.

TARYTERRE said...

HANG in there. Those fourteen days will pass quicker than you realize.

Tina Fariss Barbour said...

You can do this! I know how you feel. I was in a boot for about 3 1/2 months this year for a broken foot. I, too, was so glad to be able to wear matching shoes! I just saw my doc today and he turned me loose. He said I can wear any shoe I want as long as it doesn't hurt.

As far as advice I should have taken? Oh, my, where do I start . . .

Marie Rayner said...

Isn't it funny. When I was a girl I wanted to wear braces. There was a girl in our class who had them and I envied her! Of course had I been forced to wear them I probably would not have wanted to! People are so strange! I think your teeth do shift as you get older and bone shrinks and erodes. That's only my theory, not a fact! xxoo

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

Two weeks isn't so very long at all. All good things are worth waiting for.

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

You are coming to the end of wearing the unstylish boot and I think you should start shopping for a new pair of beautiful, but practical shoes.

I got tired of my boot and abandoned it before I should. The pain eventually went away, but sometimes feels sore.

Nellie said...

Actually, the time will pass rather quickly. That is what I've found to be true since I retired. Never will know for sure about that retainer, though.

Tina Cromwell said...

Truly happy to see that your foot is getting healed. Wearing one sneaker and one surgical shoe is really a mismatching issue. But sometime we have to carry on it for existing problem or even there are many guys who love to get foot a different look. Anyway, to feel a cozy and fresh status Jordan Mid collection can be good consideration.