A day of sandal sorrow.

It hurt like the dickens. Yes, I was left for a few minutes with no breath and no words beyond some strong ones I don't like to type, unless I'm texting my husband midday with some menial frustration while he gingerly checks his phone during a meeting at work. But that only happens occasionally.

My baby toe, on my left foot, sat at an odd angle, jutting out sideways from my foot instead of lying in peaceful harmony parallel to my other toes. In vain I grabbed it and pushed it back straight, only to have it bounce back out to freedom as soon as I released it.

I had broken my toe for sure. Yes, and the next day I had the bruising to show it. It was quite impressive actually. Purple and blue and red faded into orange and yellow and green over the course of the next few weeks, reflecting the colours of the sunset sky I was looking at when I smashed it into that chair leg. 

Now, I'm not overly vain in general, but I had to feel a bit of pride in that I had recently painted my toe nails a fine silvery colour which I felt really complimented the rainbow that was emerging on my foot. I also think that I could have been a foot model, since I find my feet rather handsome, but that's another thought for another day. Suffice it to say that it was almost a pleasure taking photos of the progress of this injury.

That said, I was faced with a problem. The summer was ending and the cooler temperatures were upon us, and as my multicoloured foot was too swollen and painful to squeeze into a shoe, I was left with only my cheap $7 flip flops that were steadily breaking down. 

After a few days, my feet and legs had had enough, and I knew I needed to find some better, more comfortable, and fancy sandals to wear until my toe was small enough again to fit into shoes.

I went to the shop and looked around, but found nothing but ugly sporty flashy flip-flops, obviously the stock that no one had wanted all summer. They were on sale and looked desperate to get off those shelves. No thank you! As you may have guessed, I like a bit of style, and as I turned to leave I caught sight of the rack I had missed on my way in. The SANUK rack.

Once upon a time I had a pair of Sanuk flip flops and let me tell you, those babies lasted me about 4 years and were my favourite pair to date. And so I looked through the rack, and behold, found me a very splendid pair of size 9 sandals. 

They were wonderful. Both fashionable and open enough to not bother my toe at all. (FYI - those are not my feet in the picture... mine are far more handsome.) I wore them proudly and even loved them enough to wear them on stage!

Can you see them? Seriously. Best sandals ever. I can't speak enough about Sanuks. They're comfortable, they're lovely to look at, and you can wear them all day without complaint. And I did!

Okay, brace yourselves, friends. This is the hard part of the story.

We, as in my family, as in my husband, myself, and our three daughters, made the educated decision about a year and a half ago to get ourselves a furry friend. We got a puppy. His name is Oscar. This is what he looked like when we got him.

Cute, right? So cute. He was just so super duper fuzzy wuzzy adorable.

However, in typical puppy fashion, he caused some trouble as well.

But honestly, he's been a good friend so far. And he has grown!

He often sits in weird ways.

But he's been through a lot with us now. Through the rigorous days of recording our first album...

 To helping model our craigslist for-sale items.

He's a big, lovely dog.

Here he is sleeping at my.....(GASP)..... feet clad in my new sandals!

Well this is a convenient way to connect the two parts of the story together, isn't it? Here is goes.

It was Wednesday morning. I worked hard to get our three girls up and out of bed, showered and dressed, fed, lunches and bags packed, and out the door on time. My sandals were left up in my room accidentally while we closed Oscar up there and headed out. (He isn't totally trustworthy in the open house yet.)

Upon my return home, and upon walking into my bedroom, I found the dog, lying gingerly beside one of my sandals, having freshly chewed off the toes.

To say I was angry would be an understatement. So, so, so beyond angry. I wished I could have had the calm attitude that the owner of "Denver the guilty dog", but alas, I didn't. I was livid. And horribly disappointed that my lovely new sandals had so easily been tossed aside by this so-called "man's best friend". Perhaps he was jealous.

Sigh. And now I am standing here in bare feet, having only just started to test out wearing shoes again, with some pain but a manageable amount, and now with no alternative to rest my feet.

These are low times, friends. Low times.

SO, I'm here to ask SANUK, the wonderful makers of these marvellous sandals, if they would consider healing my heart and replacing this pair of beloved shoes. With all hope, I promise I'll love them and wear them for now and forevermore (on warm days) and tell all the people of the world (that I meet) about the wonders of their footwear.

Will you? Will you heal my heart, Sanuk?

And do you want a dog? I've got one you can have. Great guy. No problems. Never chews.

Sincerely,
Laura