An ode to my lonely and seemingly forgotten friends….

Dear Lovely Little Shoes,

I see you all sitting patiently on the shelves in my closet. Sitting there so silent and lonely…just waiting for me pluck you from your resting place and show you to the world if only for a day or an evening. I know that you were all so used to having so many of your other friends around, but now your numbers have dwindled….just as the height of the heels have dwindled.

There was a time, dear shoes, when my love your all of you was all encompassing, blind even to a few blisters, and I could not ever have too many of you in my little collection.

But now we have all come to a place called London and I fear that you all feel forgotten. While my heart loves this new strange place, I know my feet hate it and resent me for it!! This place is no place for heels the likes of all of you. My little feet scream some days when I choose fashion over function. But now there you all sit, you boys and girls with leather and laces, your brilliant hues hidden from the world in your boxed prison.

It sometimes makes me sad to think of all the fun we had together not so long ago. You with your way of making me smile on an early morning when jeans didn't fit, but you always did, your way of making me walk a little taller at the end of some days where my only bright spot was the beauty encasing my little tootsies.

OH! How I miss you little shoes of mine. I know that you must feel jealous when I bring home a new playmate….you see me slip the supple leather on and say, 'Thank You Clark whoever you are for making such comfy shoes!' I know that you feel your high heels and strappy sandals are no longer appreciated, but you are - oh you still are!!

We will be together again lovely zapatos! There will come a time when you can begin your days with me pressed to the peddle and know that you will not be made to hustle through the streets of a bustling city, being made to dodge and weave around hordes of tourists and visitors that wear the likes of you since they didn't realize they would be doing just that! Fear not my lovely little friends, some day you will be free for your cardboard confines and pressed to service once more. You will accompany me to parties, shops, dinners, afternoon strolls, days in the office and so many other little occasions that are made meaningful when you are spotted and we hear the swift intake of breathe followed by those words you love to hear…'Wow, cute shoes!!'

Know that I love you even though I do not wear you often, The Shoe Queen