A recent sighting

[raincat]

Hi to all of you fellow high heel enthusiasts. Here's a story about a fairly recent "sighting". The following account is no more accurate than the failings of memory over several month's time will allow. But, it's my hope that you'll enjoy the read. My wife and I were traveling. On the trip, she was bitten by a "shopping bug". We were soon at a major department store inside a huge mall. She knew where she wanted to go, and having me hang around for the next couple of hours was not part of her plan. We agreed to meet at a pre-appointed spot in two hours, and she sent me on my way. Coffee seemed like a good idea. There were a lot of people at the coffee-bar, customers standing shoulder-to-shoulder waiting to place orders. I was absorbed in studying the menu on the wall. Because of the way people were crunched together, a gentle push from the side seemed no cause for alarm. "Sorry". It was a woman's voice. My gaze turned to her. She smiled quickly, then offered, "It's crowded." The fact that I had been so absorbed in the menu must have made her aware that I was in unfamilar surroundings. The focus of my attention changed immediately. I smiled, too, then said, "I was kinda enjoying it." Her smile broadened. We were crowded up so close to each other that all I could see of her was from the shoulders up. She had the kind of mature beauty that has always intrigued me, as though she was one of those women whose beauty is only enhanced with the passing of the years. An attractive hairdo framed her handsome face. A face with definition, whose features were highlighted by the benefit of expertly applied makeup. She was almost the same height as me, about 6', and I liked the direct look of her eyes. She looked to be perhaps a few years younger than myself (62). "Getting a table might be a problem," she said. "There's one about to open up over there right now. Would you be so kind as to bring our drinks over if I can hold the table?" Of course I would! She pressed a $10 bill into my hand and told me what to order for her, also offering that my drink would be on her, and instructed me to leave any change for a tip. I protested that I should be the one to buy the drinks. She told me flatly that the deal was this: She would pay. I would carry the drinks to the table. If I protested further, she was leaving immediately. "As you please, ma'am." What else could I say? She turned to head for the table. As she moved away, I was taken aback to see that this marvelously attractive woman was on crutches. Even so, her gait was surprisingly fluid and graceful. She was dressed in a business suit which followed the trim lines of her figure. Beneath the knee-length skirt, her nylon-encased legs looked perfect, shapely calves tapering to neat, trim ankles. But, startling me even more was when I saw that underpinning her countenance were the highest heels I'd ever seen on a woman in my entire life. The stiletto heels on her ankle-strap pumps had to measure at least 5 1/2"! And they seemed to present no problem for her as she confidently weaved her way through the crowd toward the table she was about to claim. (I was later able to observe that the insteps of her feet were at the vertical.) My eyes followed her every move until she got to the table. She turned to make sure that I saw where she was. A smile flashed across the room when she could see that I'd noticed her location. I soon was at the counter to order our coffees, and as per her instructions, left the change. Carrying the two steaming cups to the table where she was seated, I observed that her crutches were propped up beside her chair, leaning unobtrusively in the corner of the room. As I approached, she said, "Corner tables are always better for me. She motioned toward her crutches. "And now you know why I wanted someone to carry the coffee for me. I hope you don't mind." "The best table in the place, as far as I'm concerned." Adding, as I handed passed one of the cups over to her, "I'm glad you picked me." In retrospect, I think she liked my answer. We were together there for perhaps 10-15 minutes. I learned that she was also married and in town "on business". She learned that I was on vacation with my wife. Conversation flowed easily. The things we discussed were mostly inconsequential, but I did surprise myself by offering a compliment on her shoes and confessing to her that I've always felt an attraction to women who regularly wear high heels. She accepted the compliment most graciously, and then surprised me by volunteering that she wore very high heels not only regularly, but exclusively. "Exclusively, as in every time you come to town?" I asked. "Exclusively, as in every waking moment of every day," she replied, her eyes meeting mine in a level gaze. I was incredulous that she'd offer that to me as a stranger. But somehow, she seemed to have an understanding that I had been most sincere in my compliment on her footwear and, perhaps more importantly, that it meant a lot to me to be able to be having this conversation with her. By the time our cups were empty, I felt like I was in the presence of an old friend. She accepted my offer to escort her to where she was going to, and I felt honored to be in the presence of such an attractive and well-heeled lady as we strode through the mall together. I marveled at how natural and come her gait appeared. Neither the crutches nor the extremely tall heels on her feet seemed to detract from the natural rhythm of her stride, even though her gait was uniquely hers alone. When we arrived at her destination, she turned and shook my hand, saying that she'd enjoyed our brief encounter. I stood there and watched her walk away until she passed from view. We'll likely never cross paths again, but the memory of seeing such well-heeled and magnificent lady will be with me for the rest of my years.

[Dr. Shoe]

I suppose that's one good way to wear really high heels... crutches! ROTFLMAO

[higheeluv]

raincat, Awesome story my friend I was hoping it would go on much longer.. Did the topic of her using crutches ever come up. Did she have any type of injury to her legs or did she just use crutches all the time ti help with her wearing 5 1/2" heels. As I have stated before I know a woman who uses crutches and wears a high heel but she unfortunately only has one leg...... Very nice story higheeluv

[muddypaws]

I love the story, so many more questions arise from that don't they. I hope you meet her again to give us more. Muddypaws

[N467RX]

Yeah, you need to explain more about the crutches

[raincat]

To higheeluv and muddypaws, thank you for the compliments on what I've written so far. To answer your questions, yes, the subject of her using crutches did come up. The reason I did not include any information on that part of our conversation was because I didn't know if there would be any interest on that particular subject since this is a high heels website. But, since you asked.... Was there any type of injury to her legs? .... Well, higheeluv, since she seemed so comfortable about discussing her shoes, I was emboldened enough to comment on her crutches and a whole new conversation ensued. Discussion of her crutches led into conversation about her malady. Since her feet and legs seemed so perfectly formed with no injury apparent, so I did ask about that. She replied that several years ago she'd suffered an apparently minimal injury to her lower back which had in only a few days time had put her on crutches permanently. She said that the doctors had diagnosed her with what they called "hysterical paralysis", since they could find nothing in her injury which should cause her malady. Her paralysis manifested itself in such manner that she was no longer able to move her legs independant of one another. In other words, if her right leg advanced, then her left advanced with it. Hence, no ability to walk in a "normal" gait, as the rest of us do. Also, when standing it was necessary for her to rest a hand on something for balance, or to lean on her crutches. This left her with only one means of walking, which was to use crutches. Her gait could be described as a "3-point gait" which is sometimes called a "swing-through gait". This is the gait employed by people with only one leg, as they advance 2 crutches in one step and their single foot in the next, hence, 3-point. The difference, in her case, was that she advenced both legs in unison as in the same manner as on person with one leg only would do. I love the story, so many more questions arise from that don't they. I hope you meet her again to give us more. ..... Muddypaws, since I do not know what your questions may be, I cannot answer them at this time. But, I can comment that we were over 1,000 miles from our home when this lady and I had our chance encounter, so it is highly unlikely that we will ever meet again. It was akin to the proverbial "2 ships passing in the night". Please keep in mind that we had perhaps 15 minutes together over coffee which was followed by a 5 minute stroll through the mall. We exchanged first names only; no contact information. Yeah, you need to explain more about the crutches ........ N467RX, since you expressed interest in knowing more about her crutches, I'll offer what comes to mind. In a bygone era, her crutches my have been more commonplace, but in these more modern times, they were highly unusual. You hardly ever see genuine rosewood crutches anymore. And their design is also unusual in these times. They were single-staff, of fixed (unadjustble) length, with the hand -grips also being in a fixed position. Custom-built, measured and constructed for use by a pariticular individual. Not your pick-from-a-choice of mass-produced items as we're accustomed to seeing nowadays. Elegant in appearance, as was the lady who employed them. They looked as natural to her as she to them. Thanks to each of your for expressing interest in my encounter with this uniquely fascinating woman.

[Puffer]

What puzzles me, raincat, is whether this lady had a special reason for wearing very high heels 'in every waking moment of every day'. Did she say (or did you ask) why she liked and wore them constantly? Did her liking for them pre-date her accident? I can only assume that her reasons were primarily aesthetic rather than practical, given her disability - or was there in fact some link with her paralysis or use of crutches? That said, I suppose that, with crutches for support, she might have found very high heels easier to wear and 'walk' in than a woman without a disability.

[Dr. Shoe]

Just because someone is disabled doesn't mean that they cannot enjoy heels the same as anyone else.

[Puffer]

Just because someone is disabled doesn't mean that they cannot enjoy heels the same as anyone else.

If you are commenting on my posting just above, Dr Shoe, then I agree with you of course. I was merely trying to ascertain whether this lady had a liking for heels independent of her disability and, if so, whether she had commented on it to raincat. I think that, on meeting someone who declared that heels were worn constantly, any of us would tend to ask about the background, e.g. for style, comfort (!), wish to be taller etc, and when such regular heel wearing started. Maybe raincat did ask, maybe not - but I guess he, you and I are all at least curious.

[Bubba136]

I'm curioius, too.

[raincat]

Puffer, your intuitive questions did in fact, jolt loose a couple of details which had earlier slipped from memory. Thank you for that! I now recall that she did say something about a lifelong interest in wearing heels which did predate the injury, even though she'd never worn heels quite so high, pre-injury. She also suggested that since then, her only option was to wear only the highest heels possible because being in heels of any less height caused her intense pain. (Relating to the psychosomatic aspect of her condition?) Therefore, Puffer, I am assuming that her reason for being in extreme heels was not only "practical, rather than aesthetic", but was in fact, totally necessary for her. And, something she said gave the definite impression that she was in no way unhappy about her condition. In fact, my impression was that she rather relished the uniqueness. (Speculating) Also speculating – that walking in such tall heels without the supporting crutches would be impossible or nearly so for most women. As stated in my original post, I've never in my life seen a woman wearing such tall heels. Please keep in mind that my time spent with her was brief. And, in conversation with someone who you don't know well, something said could be mis-interpreted by the listener, as could body language or other gestures also be taken for a meaning other than the intended one. I certainly did not want to "push the limits" so as to appear overly curious about only her footwear and disability. Also, at the time, I was overwhelmed with not only her physical beauty and unique appearance, but also by the amount of information which she did share with me. And yes, a million questions came to mind afterward. One of life's frustrations is that opportunity often knocks but only once.