Fear of Feet

I love the winter, especially the boots. My feet are safely stowed away and, unlike the rest of me, unavailable for assessment by strangers, which is truly the worst kind. But soon enough the Earth will warm up, and my feet will clamor, if such a thing were possible, for freedom. Boots away, sandals front and center. Sandals are easy and fun, suggesting good times, sunny skies, no cares, frozen daiquiris and --pedicures. It's almost that time, and once again I am debating what to do. (Staph infection kills Texas woman after her heel was cut with pumice stone.)

Painting of toenails goes way back. The Egyptians colored their nails, using red to show the highest social class; naturally, Cleopatra's nails were painted a deep red. But you could lose a leg that way. Several years ago I saw a piece on the news about a woman who contracted a blood disease from a pedicure, caused by contaminated utensils or something like that. Germs entered a tiny cut on her foot and next thing you know, she's getting fitted for a prosthetic leg. Others less fortunate were fitted for caskets. (Serious mycobacterium infections called fortitum can cause boils on the legs.)

I know, I know--everyone does it. Certainly all my friends do, and their feet look so much better than mine out in the open. So I've been thinking that this year I might grow up and try one. But then just last week there was another news story about how all the women from Korea, who are the best pedicurists and do it the most, have hepatitis or something and don't even know it, and then pass it on to their patrons, and it freaked me out again. So I'm thinking that once again this year my toes will remain unpainted, which is surely indicative of the lowest caste of all. I often plan to do it myself, but sitting down and applying color to my toes never seems to make it to my to-do list. (Physicians advise immediate care.... fungal infections are the most severe...amputation of the big toe...) I need to get over it and count my blessings: All ten toes. And remember the old saw, "I cried because I had no pedicure, and then I met a woman who had no feet."