From Heels to Muck Boots

Wearing borrowed muck boots during our 5th grade Farm Trip in 2011

A package arrived today and my husband exclaimed, "Seriously, more shoes?!"

Here's the thing: I'm not a shoe fanatic. I hate shopping for shoes. I've had multiple foot surgeries and will lovingly refer to my feet as having "special needs." They do.

For the past two months I've had more special events, speeches, panels, and opportunities to meet very amazing important people. In short, I've had to step up my shoe game. This is especially challenging when you have special needs feet, because it takes some trial and error to figure out which shoes will actually work and which ones will trick you into thinking they're ok while walking around in a DSW - only to wreak havoc when you try to wear them for real.

The package that arrived today contained brand new muck boots. This made me happy, and it actually made my husband laugh. You see, even though I've been privileged to have the "problem" of trying to find shoes for all sorts of new special events lately, on Monday I'll be going on my favorite field trip with my 5th grade class.

Each year my partner teacher and I take our class to live and work on a farm for a full week. I joke with students' parents that perhaps this is why I don't yet have children of my own, which may not be entirely untrue.

This year, our class was not given a week at our usual host farm in Vermont and had to not only find a new farm, but to raise over $15,000 to go. A huge shout out to all of our donors! Given that we will be going to a new farm, without spare muck boots, I realized that I should treat myself to a pair of shoes that won't hurt my feet.

We are thrilled to be going to East Hill Farm School next week (wish us luck!). And I can't tell you how happy I am that I will be wearing some big ol' muck boots instead of devious high heels.
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