Slightly Bemused writes:
So I wore a hole in my sock today. Well, technically 3 holes. Second time this week, although the one yesterday was a single hole. Both in the heel, first right, then left. And a big toe started peeping out the end. I am not sure what this means.
These socks owe me nothing – they are 15 years old if they are a day, and have been washed in a variety of ways from washing machines, to hotel sinks to washboards at the side of a river somewhere. One of my t-shirts of similar vintage also decided to give up this past week. I wear my clothes to destruction.
Superstition tells us that if you wear a hole in your sock, you will receive a letter. If two holes wore in your sock within the same week it is a sign that you will soon receive a gift. As far as I can tell, superstition is silent on the matter of multiple-sock-multiple-hole scenarios, but I live in hope. The one thing that is certain is that ultimately a new pair of socks is coming my way.
When I was young, a hole in my sock meant that more often than not my mother would be out with the darning needle. These days, the material my socks are made of would not take kindly to such treatment, and so my socks are destined for a different fate. Just what, as yet, I cannot say, but that spirit of not just chucking something out because it is no longer pristine remains with me.
After washing, they make great dusters; if trimmed right, they can make good wrist warmers (not that that is needed here); or if transferred to an imaginative child, they could be anything their minds can craft them into. My daughter made hand puppets, as I am sure generations of children have done.
But there are generations of children who have never made a sock puppet. And in many of the places I worked, I am sure there are many who never will. And not because they are not imaginative, or resourceful, or careful not to waste items that have passed their original use. The plethora of homemade toys I see every day is testament to that.
No, they likely will not make sock puppets for a more basic reason: they mostly do not have socks in daily use. The footwear of choice there is the flip flop, or sandal, or thong (for our antipodean friends). It is cheap, cheerful, and more importantly, cool. I have occasionally had snickers come my way at wearing socks in such a hot climate.
Socks are certainly available, and are worn, but only with the good shoes, like on Sundays and special occasions. This will wear them out slower, while the wearing of sandals allows one to be much cooler.
Except of course for those who were forced to flee their homes. They might not even have the flip flops. I have occasionally asked myself, as this morning, that if I were forced to leave at no notice, what would I try to take with me? Would socks be high on my list of priorities? or would I go for the photo albums of my daughter? Or the external disc drives with my electronic data? What if I had not time, and all I was left with were my socks?
Today in far too many places, millions of people have been forced from their homes with little or no warning. I heard stories of women walking for over 8 days, carrying their children and little else, to get to safety. They came without socks, and occasionally without flip flops, or they wore out. Yet on they came, seeking a place to allow their children to be children.
So this morning, as I contemplate the holes in the heels of my socks I do wish for a gift, but not for me. I wish for the gift of peace so children can explore their own imaginations in peace, and mothers do not have to walk for days just to keep their families alive. And maybe even a sock puppet or two may make a dull day more amusing.
Slightly Bemused‘s column appears here every Wednesday.
Pic: Alamy sock stock
I think it means you have to cut your toenails and pumice your heels!!
Gwan, your feet will enjoy the treat.
and where might a fellow go for that sort of thing, daisy?
I know a fella.
You’ll get nailclippers and pumice stones in Dealz, Brother. A little bit of old school self care, starting with soaking the feet in a basin of water with some bubbles and a bit of baby oil and then moving on to the clipping and filing.
do you do call-outs?
I have one of those foot spa bubbly thingies, but while I was away the last time my family very kindly (and I do mean that) tidied up my place. I am still finding things in unusual places, and I am sure the foot spa will emerge triumphant at some point!
You might have put your foot in it by mentioning this?
If you can still get them, Radox bath salts in one of those is heaven after a long day trekking about in hiking boots!
I’m tasked with doing both Mammy and Daddy Chainsaw’s feet regularly. I hate doing my own feet, so doing theirs is a horrible chore, but an act of daughterly love.
In summation: No.
in all seriousness, daisy, that is really sweet of you
My aunt, oh she of the ginger feline menace, used get the closest one of us to massage her feet as she had a cuppa with my Mum. Not a pleasant chore, but the amount of familial gossip you picked up while doing it was amazing :-)
Very biblical
I think it means I need to buy new socks :-)
Bertie would have loved this post :)
Ha!
Somehow, somewhere, he knows, and a shudder has gone down his spine.
We wish you well, Bertie.
Jeeeeez
Now I’m crying
Another beautiful post Slightly.
And much food for thought.
And you do need to be kinder to your feet.
Sorry to the author, but reporting on sock holes and poor hygiene (’15 years’? is hardly news – for the bewildered or otherwise.
Where does the poor hygiene come from? My feet are cleaned each night and morning, and I always use clean socks.
The problem has been how those socks were cleaned. Being bashed by a rock against another rock does not tend to hold the woof with the weave :-)
they do look to be good quality socks
it’s worth spending a bit more for good socks in my very humble opinion
Nicest socks I’ve ever received were proper knitted ones, thick wool and extremely warm. They need to be darned the odd time but they’ve lasted longer than any other pair I’ve owned.