Pester-Power and Shoes

I know that women have a reputation for collecting shoes,  designer shoes, pretty shoes, high-heeled shoes, dainty shoes, expensive shoes, crazy shoes.  

Borrowed image

Back in the 1950's, when I was a child,  we wore sandals in the summer months, good, sensible, leather sandals which came in a choice of brown, red or blue.  Almost everyone I knew wore them.  Most girls chose red, I preferred the blue ones,  because they came with a light cream coloured sole and I liked the contrast!  

Borrowed image

Some children wore plastic sandals.  How I yearned for plastic sandals.  We were not allowed to have them.  No argument.  That flat denial just made the longing all the more acute!  

Borrowed image

When I was 6 all the girls got beautiful glittery slippers but my heart was set

Borrowed image

on something a bit different.  I was desperate for a pair of ballet shoes - I was the size of a baby elephant and I didn't do dancing... but I just knew that life would be different if I had ballet shoes... 

Borrowed image

I would become a princess.  I got the ballet shoes.  The only problem was that they were

Borrowed image

black.  The ugliest shoes in the world.    I didn't try pester power for a long time after that!

Borrowed Image

Through the years I have worn lots of lovely shoes, plenty of ugly shoes, many unsuitable shoes.  

Borrowed Image

Nowadays I stick to buying practical shoes and boots.