I don’t know why self-portraits focus almost exclusively on one’s face given the fact that you can typically learn so much more about a person by looking at their other parts. When I saw The Hours and was initially skeptical about Nicole Kidman playing the part of Virginia Woolf, what won me over wasn’t the much-hyped prosthetic nose that Kidman donned: it was the fact that in various scenes of Woolf smoking cigarettes, Kidman had ink-stained fingers. Of course Woolf would have had ink on her fingers: she was a writer in an era of fountain pens. Show me a delicate, fine-boned, but stained hand, and I’ll show you a writer, down and dirty.
It’s not like I like having dirty feet…but I love being barefoot, wearing sandals, and hiking. When I was in college, I sometimes hiked barefoot, believing along with crazy old Ivar, the Norwegian hermit in Willa Cather’s O Pioneers!, that feet are a body part immune to sin and thus safe to indulge in sensuous and sometimes dirty delights. When I spent a week hiking in California’s Marin County several years ago, I took only one pair of shoes: a pair of generic sport sandals which I literally walked to pieces, coming home with distinct tan-lines where the straps had been. These days, I’ve acquired more expensive tastes in sandals, wearing my Keen Montereys so often I’m acquiring a fisherman’s tan with square patches of brown on my insteps and walking right through mud puddles and streams when I hike in my Keen Newport H2s.
So, there you have it. I’m a girl who likes expensive shoes as long as they, like me, aren’t afraid of a little mud and muck. When people say I’m “grounded” and “down to earth,” they sometimes don’t realize that those qualities go down to my toes.
- Although it may be true that the devil wears Prada, the Zen Mama wears Keens: when I’m not wearing either of my two pairs of outdoorsy sandals, I’m stomping around in a pair of Bronx. Yes, it’s keen to wear Keens in Keene…and when you’re a sometimes-klutzy Zen Mama, it’s cool to wear shoes and sandals with a sturdy rubber toeguard.
This is my sixth submission for the current self-portrait marathon. You can see my previous attempts here, here, here, here, and here; a gallery of other self-portraits here; and a slide-show of participant portraits here.
And while you’re clicking around the blogosphere, be sure to check out my most recent contribution to Area 603 as well as the inaugural installment of the Festival of Trees. Enjoy!
Jul 2, 2006 at 9:42 am
I buy Keens for my son! They are great shoes (snandels, he calls them).
You have the tiniest feet!!!
LikeLike
Jul 2, 2006 at 10:29 am
Oh my god, your feet are so like your face! (I hope you know what I mean – obviously not literally, but they have similar qualities).
LikeLike
Jul 2, 2006 at 11:53 am
Actually, PG, my feet are much larger in person! 🙂 When I bought my first pair of Keens, I thought they were the ugliest shoes ever: in fact, I think I quoted OJ Simpson about “those ugly-ass shoes!” But after hiking with them in the rain, I was hooked: they have great traction, and it doesn’t hurt to stub your toe in them.
Jean, your comment made me wonder if it would be possible to match a person’s *face* with their *feet*. It only makes sense that if you walk a lot (which I do), your feet would acquire a “personality” of their own.
LikeLike
Jul 2, 2006 at 12:36 pm
THIS LITTLE PIGGY WENT TO THE MARKET.
THIS LITTLE PIGGY STAYED HOME.
THIS LITTLE PIGGY HAD ROAST BEEF.
THIS LITTLE PIGGY HAD NONE.
AND THIS LITTLE PIGGY…
LikeLike
Jul 2, 2006 at 1:14 pm
My first time to this site, via panthergirl and somewhat surprised to be greeted by dirty feet. However, mine were like this earlier today when I returned from a spin on my mountain bike.
Seeing all of the literary references, please consider donatinga review or two to Bob’s books too. Its at
http://bobsbooks.wordpress.com/
and we share reviews of books we have read. it’s Robs site but you’ll see me on there from time to time. Do please add something – could be an old review of your own…
rashbre
LikeLike
Jul 2, 2006 at 3:19 pm
“if it would be possible to match a person’s *face* with their *feet*”
Maybe not. I myself have very delicate-looking, almost feminine feet (except for the toe fungus, that is). I don’t think my face was blessed with similarly fine bone structure!
LikeLike
Jul 2, 2006 at 3:20 pm
Great idea for a self-portrait, by the way! Would you be insulted if I told you it was my favorite of yours so far?
LikeLike
Jul 3, 2006 at 9:49 pm
Damn girl! You got some gnarly lookin’ pinky toes! ;o)
LikeLike
Jul 5, 2006 at 9:40 pm
I’m always so embarrased of my calloused feet! Would never put a pic of them on the web. Love to be barefoot – and love my Keens!
LikeLike