Best foot forward: one step at a time
Photo caption: Melissa Fabinski arrived in Glen Arbor with her family from Golden, Colorado, opened her “sunbrella” and waved a welcome. Family vacationing with Melissa are her mom Sterling, dad Jim, brothers Hunter and Miles, sister Stella, and grandparents Elaine and John Fabinski. The senior Fabinskis, who live in Midland, are in town to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.
By Joanne Bender
Sun contributor
What follows is how all of this shoe-talk began. So step right up and read on.
Glen Arbor Sun editor, Jacob Wheeler, was seated at the next table at Leelanau Coffee Roasters one sunny Monday recently with his shoes placed by his bare feet; a reminder of another famous Glen Arbor icon, who hardly ever wears shoes, inside or outside—Cherry Republic owner, Bob Sutherland.
This led us to the TREE OF SHOES standing by Art’s Tavern in beautiful downtown Glen Arbor. I was curious, how did so many people lose their shoes? Or did hanging them there become a special honor? Why not write a story about shoes and take pictures of people wearing 2018 footwear.
So here it is! The history of shoes is not known by many. SOLE searching was definitely in order. Research online should be an opener. And it was. I will also walk around town and hopefully find this summer’s favorite footwear. Bare feet pictures, too? Nah, I don’t think so. (Unless I run into Bob …)
My source for some of the following important information is Charlene Tops’ Facts About History of Shoes.
Did you know?
- Flip flops were named because of the sound of the sandal when slapping between the sole of the foot and the floor? You probably guessed that. But, did you know that they originated as early as 4000 BC with ancient Egyptians? They were made from papyrus and palm leaves. In Africa and in India they were constructed of wood, in China and Japan, rice straw was used. Flip flops gained popularity in the United States after the end of World War II when soldiers brought them back home to the United States.
- The earliest known shoes were sandals, around 6000 to 8000 years ago—and there is actually a surviving shoe (somewhere) that is 10,000 years old?
- In ancient Egypt only those of higher status were allowed to wear pointed sandals. Colors red and yellow were reserved for the highest society.
- Not until 1818 was the right shoe invented—“two left feet” until then.
- Right and left foot shoes were first made in Philadelphia. I hear there is only one Shoe Museum in the world. It is in Toronto, featuring footwear spanning 4500 years?
- Some shoes are just too dangerous to wear. During the 16th century, aristocratic women began to wear shoes that were extremely high-heeled. Some were so high that women needed servants to help them walk. Not one female was wearing stilettoes in Glen Arbor that I could find.
- Regarding wedding shoes, in Hungary the groom drinks a toast to the bride from her wedding shoe.
- And we all remember Cinderella who is proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life.
Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, said “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” And then he had to leave his boots behind. They are floating around in space somewhere. They had to be discarded before Neil came back to earth for fear of contamination.
The message for all, then, is to be footloose and fancy free—and always to put your best foot forward, or at least try. If you have lost any shoes, do check the shoe tree by Art’s. The signage reads “LOST SOLES”.
And enjoy each day one step at a time.
