Random Ruminations

The Ankle Boot Girl

---

On our recent foray into the Southlands I came across an observation that has stuck with me. One morning my family and friends decided to take a hike, and in true morning ritual fashion, we had to stop by the coffee shop for caffeinated sustenance. I'm a bit of a life scene bobblehead, and I am constantly taking in all the various colors, smells, and shapes that surround me in any given locale. The coffee shop that we were in did not disappoint.

There was the aroma of freshly roasted beans permeating my nostrils. The strong scent of the righteous free trade coffee smothered the wafting fragrance of the pastry case that the barista was making bee-like visits to. Throughout the black and white checkerboard floor of the shop, little iron tables perched in random clusters, most of them adorned with other morning brew seekers.

A large chalkboard covered all of the wall to the left of the entrance door, it's surface colorfully adorned with epicurean delights such as shepherd's bread avocado toast and spinach and bacon quiche. The entire setting was humming to a beat of the baristas' shoes squeaking and foam gushing into all manner of individualistically concocted sippers.

The whole back wall was one big drink order board, full of multiple coffee and tea manifestations sure to delight one's taste buds. Americano, Macchiato, Latte, and hibiscus tea were all in attendance . The list and variations of the world's favorite comfort drinks were almost endless and overwhelmed one's decision making center with just one gaze.

It was while I was waiting my turn that I focused my observational beam on the creature that was standing right in front of me. She was a young, slender woman. Aside from the fact that she was right in front of me, I would have noticed her anyway, for she was very fashionably attired. Adorning her lean form was a fitted cream-colored cable knit sweater and a patchwork cow hide type of fabric mini skirt. Completing the ensemble were a pair of black leather ankle boots. Her outfit was both sophisticated yet had a bit of individualistic flair and I smiled in creative approval.

Now, being close to the Earth in height and not one to make people feel uncomfortable, I often find myself looking down at the ground, it was as I cast my eyes upon the floor that I noticed Ankle Boot Girl rise up on her tip toes to get a better look at the order board. It was then that I saw the blood. The poor child had bleeding blisters the size of silver dollars on both of her ankles! We are not talking about a small amount of blood either, those weeping sores were gushing red fluid down into her boots.

I sucked in air. The saying "Beauty is pain" flashed through my cortex and I instantly wondered multiple thoughts. Was this girl's life so busy that she just didn't have the time to slap a bandage or moleskin onto the wounds? Every step that she had to take must have smarted a bit, I mean her ankle flesh was more gouged that the surface of the moon. I love fashionable clothing, but I kind of think that I would draw the line or at least mitigate the damage that a pair of Iron Maiden-like boots would cause.

Banana-cat seeks comfort at all times...

The Ankle Boot Girl stuck with me for the rest of my trip and beyond. Her actions and apparent willingness to suffer discomfort for whatever reason really bothered me. Have we as a society neglected to place a focus on having enough sense to tend to things in a rational manner? Do we constantly have to be in such a hurry that we neglect to care for ourselves sufficiently? Slapping a bandage on a blister takes about ten seconds, stopping for coffee takes at least five minutes. The whole observation made me feel like a common sense ratio was off somewhere.

I imagine there are things that all of us do that defy sense and reason. I know that I am sure guilty of this type of life wellness infraction on occasion. Twenty-first century life is so often harried that I know many people just go through their familiar patterns of behavioral motions. However, I am going to try to be more mindful about my ankle boot missteps as I trod through daily life. If I have a blister that is festering, perhaps I need to tend to it instead of grabbing a coffee. Just like if I have a child that needs an extra few minutes of parental focus, then perhaps I should leave off posting my post at the time I want. Or maybe I need to really get that pinched nerve in my neck that I have been living with checked out instead of just suffering through it so I don't deviate from my daily grind. Everywhere I look there are examples of misplaced focus, little life blisters so to speak. Redirecting attention is never a bad thing, not when that gaze lights upon correcting behaviors that are detrimental to our daily wellness.

So, how about you all? Are there blisters that you are putting up with so you can keep up with your routine?

---

---

And as always, all of the images in this post were taken on the author's blister-free iPhone.

---

Want to read more @Generikat posts?

---

Click Here!