(Copyright © 1999 T Bruce Tober)
One evening in October, when I was one-third sober,
An' taking home a ‘load' with manly pride;
My poor feet began to stutter, so I lay down in the gutter,
And a pig came up an' lay down by my side;
Then we sang ‘It's all fair weather when good fellows get together,'
Till a lady passing by was heard to say:
‘You can tell a man who "boozes" by the company he chooses'
And the pig got up and slowly walked away.
"The Pig Got Up and Slowly Walked Away", 1933 song
by Benjamin Hapgood Burt
In early December I was in London to interview someone for an article I had been assigned to write. The interview took place late in the afternoon.
After the interview I walked up to Soho for dinner and a movie. As is my wont when in London I always walk almost everywhere. There's so much to see and do, why bother with the tube or buses or taxis unless absolutely needed?
This time however, I was suited up and of course that meant wearing somewhat dressy leather shoes, something I almost never do. By the time I hit my hotel bed that night, my feet were ready to be amputated - hot, tired, blistered. They ached like crazy.
But the next day I pressed on anyway. Walking back to Soho again, this time for a meeting with a Net aquaintance. I got about halfway there when I realised I just couldn't take it anymore. I stopped in at a sporting goods shop and found some well-padded athletic socks that I thought might help.
They did.
For about two streets.
At which point I began looking for a shoe shop. I found one and after looking over the stock, I decided on a pair of Hush Puppies. I'd not had a pair in many years and thought they might just do the trick.
They did.
And they continued to do so all day. It was like walking on air.
It's now almost a month later and I've hardly gone a day without wearing them. When I'm out I feel as though I could walk forever. They're just amazing.
I just feel sorry for, and very grateful to, the pig who gave his life so I could walk comfortably again.