Member-only story
Let’s take the shoes off
And put them back on. And then…
Once a week or so I wash and cream my wife’s feet. It’s the “or so” that is prevalent because she often begs off with the excuse that she doesn’t have the time. I fuss at her about that because she has foot problems, and we really should do this weekly.
Admittedly, this is a lengthy procedure. I have to lay out towels in front of the couch and begin with a basin of warm, soapy water. She has dry skin, so rubbing with a face cloth is part of this section. Then cotton swabs get between her toes and cuticles.
Next, I lug the basin back to the bathroom to dump it and refill it with slightly cooler clean water for rinsing. After all the soap is off, another trip brings back cool water with Epson salts, and she’ll soak in that for a bit. This is followed by thorough drying, and then I apply foot cream, paying special attention to a deep skin crease on one foot. Finally, cotton swabs or tissue to remove any cream caught in cuticles or under toenails, and we are done.
Though it is then time to put on her sneakers, which is a task she needs help with every day anyway. I had just finished lacing up the shoes when she pointed out that she was still wearing her pajamas.
Okay, I took off the shoes, and she took off the pajamas. I put her shoes back on and…
Did you notice anything missing there? We didn’t, at least not until she started to stand up with her jeans in her hand.
We both started laughing. I took off her sneakers yet again and helped her get into the pants. Once again, I laced up the sneakers, still laughing a little.
It’s good to have a little laughter mixed in to our chores.
