Shoes Make Me Happy

Shoes Make Me Happy.

Hello, my name is Karen, and I am a shoe-aholic.  I buy too many shoes, and it makes me happy. I think of shoes as little pieces of art that I can share with the world every time I walk out the door.  

I buy shoes as souvenirs.  Trip to New York City, Greenwich Village...low heeled red boots.

Sydney Opera House...black fancy dress shoes.  

I buy shoes to commemorate events.  First day of kindergarten of my oldest son, brown knee high boots (it was FALL).  Postdoc interview at Stanford, sensible pumps.

I buy shoes to look the part.  KISS concert, Harley Davidson boots.  Halloween Vampire Costume, thigh high black boots...of course.  Photography conference, purple wedges.

I buy shoes to alleviate stress.  Husband diagnosed with cancer, box the size of a washing machine shoes up from Zappos.com.  Full disclosure, that was also accompanied by a trip to the liquor store. Angry at the world, beautiful studded high heels.

I buy shoes in anticipation for exciting adventures that MIGHT happen.  It’s possible that I will be invited to a fancy dinner, red stilettos. Perhaps I will become a photography mogal, more red stilettos.

I buy shoes to bring out my envisioned personality traits.  Feeling sassy, Bettie Page shoes. Need a boost of confidence, bring on the chunky high heels.  Feeling my roots, cowboy boots.

I buy shoes for function.  Photographing dogs in a field, Merrells are perfect.  Photographing in the photography studio, slip ons, so I can walk on and off the backdrops without leaving footprints. Parent teacher conference, sensible, yet stylish flats.

Do I buy too many shoes?  Yes, yes I do. Does it make me happy?  Yes, yes it does. It’s not my fault though. Turns out, even though my mom hated any and all kinds of shopping, my maternal grandmother loved shoes too. So, there you have it, totally not my fault,  it’s genetic. Besides, everyone has their thing, right? Or things. Did I mention I like books??