Are those Shoes or Stilts

April 29th, 2010 - As promised what happens in Vegas will not be staying in Vegas. There are so many things I want to write about it is hard choosing one, so let's start with shoes. Anyone who has been to Vegas, just one time, knows it is a walking town, lots and lots of walking, through shops, casinos, to pools, spas and to each and every hotel, so you get the whole experience. One also knows that to do Vegas you need a good comfortable pair of shoes. And even with that, whether walking in flat shoes, gym shoes, flip flops or sandles, after awhile your feet will hurt. However, trying to walk Vegas in high heels, and I mean HIGH heels, we are talking 4 to 5 inches high, is just plain insanity.

Saturday night and the town is alive. Got dressed, donned my best pair of flip flops and headed for the casino. While in the elevator I see two woman dressed to kill in their shortest dresses, (I am talking, don't bend over, stoop, or sit,dre4sses ) and their highest, pointest, flashiest, name touting, high heel shoes to match. I poke my friend with me to make sure she noticed the shoes. Am I kidding, how could you not notice the shoes, they were 5 inches tall, skinny, skinny heels, and straps 1/8 of an inch wide to secure them to your feet. I was convinced the shoes were more than just foot coverage, they were a secrect weapon, in James Bond fashion. Someone approaches, bend over, grab your shoes, and with the heal puncture their heart. Of course with the short dress you are wearing bending over is a real problem. Anyway, watching the women walk out of the elevator, was like watching two clowns on stilts. The legs were stiff and wobbled, and all I could think of is "weebles wobble, they don't fall down. Maybe not fall down, but they do trip while getting out of the elevator. I had to cover my mouth and stiffle my laugh. With shoes on I believe the one women was only an inch shy of bumping her head on the elevator opening. Next came 'red platform shoe' girl. The sole part, which was the platform was two inches high, plus three additional inches on the heels, on a skinny girl who couldn't have weighed more than 100 pounds, with the shoes. As she klopped outside trying to keep her balance, I was reminded of my girls when they were little playing dress up in my shoes. These big shoes on very little bodies. But believe me this girl was on a mission and nothing came between her and her heels, that is, except the big wad of gum she stepped into. While standing in line to get into the Elvis show, there was an elderly women, in my age bracket, wearing very high, very tight, and very UGLY shoes. The rest of her outfit resembled what is nicely referred to as 'a women of the night'. When I asked if her shoes hurt she looked at me with pity, as she noticed my flipflops, and said "even if they hurt, which they don't...liar...I don't consider myself dressed without high heels." I left my comments to myself, but I couldn't help thinking that half of her wrinkles were from grimmacing so much from the shoes.

As woman after woman walked by me, slowly, in their very high shoes, I thought why would anyone torture themselves like that. Is all that pain and expense (believe me these shoes are in the 2 to 3 hundred dollar range) worth it. What possible advantage or satisfaction do they get by wearing those shoes. Do they get special attention? Maybe not special, but definitely more. Better service?. Not better, but definitely quicker, of course it could be the short dress... Should I go out and buy some of those shoes, so I too am treated that way?? But alas, my common sense kicked in and I remembered, while walking through the casino, why I don't wear those shoes. You see in addition, to a lot of walking in Vegas, there is a lot of sprinting for that special slot machine that you have just been dieing to play and has just opened up. One thing for sure, even as old as I am, I can out run anyone in those high, high heels. cha-ching.