In these shoes?

I know exactly when my shoe obsession began. I was in grade 2. It was the 70s. Back then everybody wore "gators" or "galoshes" in the winter time. They only came in black. I'm sure you remember them. You put your shoe on first and then you put your shoe down in your gators and you fastened them with a little silver buckle that was on the side.

One day, a classmate showed up in red gators. They were like the Holy Grail of gators. I became obsessed with them. I wanted red gators more than anything in the world, but she said her mother bought them on the mainland and they weren't available in Newfoundland. Every morning I would stare at those red gators in the coat room. It started my obsession with red shoes.

Now I can't pass a shoe store If there are red shoes in the window. I must have them.

I love shoes. Who doesn't? The higher the better. The more ridiculous the better. They're like artwork to me. Nothing makes you feel more powerful than a 3 inch black stiletto on a Monday morning. That means business!

I started having back problems in 2002 after having an accident and it got progressively worse over the years. But it never stopped me from wearing my high heels. Even though my chiropractor would constantly tell me "The heels are not helping." I would tell him "I have a Barbie foot. I need high heels. If I wear a flat my back would go out." He never believed me. As I hobbled in his office I would say "Just because you're in pain doesn't mean you have to be ugly." I will always wear my high heels.

On March 19, 2012, I had back surgery. I had two titanium rods attached to my lower spine to fix the damage and stop the pain. The day before I went into surgery. I went to a shoe store like a drunk getting his last drink before an AA meeting. I bought a pair of 3 inch purple velvet shoes. Even though I knew it would be a long time before I could wear them. They were incentive for me to get out of the bed and start walking again. My goal is to put them on September 1, almost 6 months after my surgery and wear them to work.

Bette Midler has a song called." In these shoes." It became my theme song for the next six months as I learn to live with this titanium spine. I'm sure a lot of people would look at my situation and think that's a pretty silly thing to concentrate on as you recover.

I don't care. It's my thing.

I think shoes are to women what penis' are to men. It's only 3 inches but it makes us powerful beyond belief!