Embracing Yourself

!VIEWERS WARNING! This blog post is not a guide to hugging yourself. I apologize in advance to all persons concerned for any damage or repercussions caused through the ambiguity of the title. Victims of deceit may however be consoled by the following link which may provide some compensation: http://www.wikihow.com/Hug-Yourself

I have often heard the tale of how my aunty (who, for fear of no longer receiving birthday cards from her, shall not be named) had her life transformed in the most arbitrary of places; a shoe shop. Not only did she leave the store with a brand new pair of comfortable ‘shoezies’ (diminutive of shoes), but also with an entirely new outlook on life.

One day, Gabriel, a fabulous Woolies store attendant, spotted my aunt plodding through the boots section looking rather lost. She didn’t look lost as such but he must have assumed so as no right-minded person would be browsing the fur-coated footwear in the sweltering heat of the African sun, and especially not during the ‘50% off Summer Sales’ that had the rest of the mall flocking around large spreads of the latest sandals and slip-slops. On approach he was horrified to discover my aunty wearing a similar pair of large boots at the time as well.

Concerned for the thermal wellbeing of her feet, he offered his assistance.

“Good afternoon ma’am, may I offer my assistance?”

“Oh, hi! Yes, I’m looking for another pair of these,” she said pointing to the pristine shoes on her feet.

Gabe withheld a disapproving look.

“Ah, flying to Europe for a winter holiday trip, are we?” he said hopefully.

“I wish!” she replied, “Actually I’m looking for another pair to wear on alternating days, so that I don’t wear them out as fast.”

“But lady, it’s thirty-eight degrees! You can’t wear boots like that every day; your poor toe-tjies will melt! Why not pick up a pair of sandals from our wonderful summer sale section!”

My aunt blushed. “Well, I don’t usually wear sandals…”

“Why not?”

She glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one was around. “It’s just that I’ve got a –“

“Got a what?”

My aunty leant forward and said in a hoarse whisper, “I’ve got a funny toe.”

Gabriel paused for a thoughtful moment to decide what he should say next. “Show me.”

A few minutes of squabbling and resistance later, Gabe had my aunty seated on one of those poufy shoe-trying-on chairs with her left foot fully exposed.

“Well where is it?”

“That one,” my aunty said indicating towards her banana shaped pinkie toe.

“That’s the toe?”

“Yip…”

“You’re telling me you’ve been scalding your toe-tjies because you have a slightly irregular little pinkie!?”

“Well I can’t wear sandals otherwise it’ll stick out and everyone will stare at me!”

 Gabriel looked stunned. In one swooping motion he gripped my aunty by the shoulders and said in a reaffirming voice, “Lady... Embrace your toes!”

And with that my aunty stood up, smiled widely, and marched towards the summer sales section.

“Ma’am, you forgot your boot!” Gabe called, but she didn’t hear him. She had already heard everything she needed to hear.

Thus, a simple visit to Woolies had inspired a new chapter in my auntie’s life. One in which she may flourish and relish in the good times of a being a lady who has embraced herself.