September 1, 2010
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Barefoot encounter
It was nearing the end of a long day when I got into the subway car. There were still some empty seats but I chose to stand instead. I looked around and noticed someone's barefeet stretched out a bit. The person was napping. I thought maybe his sandals were just nearby. But his soles of his feet were dirty. I did note that he had decent arch (I'm flat footed). I thought maybe he was homeless. He was wearing shorts and I noted quite a few insect bites (mosquitoes?).
I wondered who he was and why he was barefoot. As I got ready to get off the train to transfer to another line, I noticed he was also getting off at the same station. His clothes were clean and so was his knapsack. He was behind me and I didn't want to look back. I made my way downstairs, found a spot on the platform and turned around. He was standing right beside me. He was Asian with just a few whiskers on his chin. He wasn't skinny but lean. His hair was tied back in a short pony tail and looked healthy. He had good complexion as well. He got on the train and stood beside me. I casually looked down at his feet. His toenails were clean and well maintained.
I know some people prefer to be barefoot and I wonder if he was one of them. Now a bunch of questions came flooding into my head. I stood there and wondered if I should ask him just to satisfy my own curiosity. I wondered if he had any problems with nails, glass, dog droppings and stuff like that. Do people look at him funny? How about his work place? Does his gf / bf object? How about restaurants?
But I just wasn't sure and I figured he might object. I didn't know how he would react. He just had this very calm and peaceful look on his face that made him look mystic. Maybe he was a monk?He got off the same stop as I did but quickly walked away to another exit. I went my way with many questions left unanswered. Maybe I should have approached him. Would you have approached him?
Comments (26)
dude.. i saw this girl walking around the busy streets of chicago SHOELESS.... and she was wearing these dangling metal decors around her waist that jingled all the way. annoying shit.
yeah, i would have said something for sure...like "hey, what's up with the barefeet?" he was probably just DYING for someone to ask him!
Man, you were CRUISING him and he obviously noticed it and responded by being so CLOSE to you!
Next time, just say hi! *wink* LOL
@Made2Order - jingle bells, jingle bells.... hahahaha
@Curlyquilter - oh, I knew I should have asked him!
@ZenPaper - me cruising him? innocent moi? hahaha.... I guess one of the easiest things to do on subways is to look at their reflections in the windows. I guess I can be a very
discreet stalker.
Eh, I probably would have noticed but not approach him. I know some people prefer that.
I would have noticed too, but I don't think I would've approached him.
LOL@ the reflection stalking- I do that too!
I would have taken his picture at the very least!!
A fellow worker wore shoes to work all the time. I met him shopping in the mall but noticed he had not shoes. I joked about leaving his shoes at the store. He said no he never wears shoes unless he has to wear them. Shoes were required at work so he wore them. He felt that barefoot was more natural and healthy. Said he seldom got any cuts or injuries. Not for me!
no.
@Made2Order - Belly dancer taking a restroom break.
I remember before I had a recurring dream about me walking barefoot everywhere...
Yeah, I probably I'll say hi or somehting and ask y he didnt wear any shoes. What the worse can happen, he decline to respond and walk away.
I definitely would have noticed but I don't think that I would have asked him about it.
I'd have asked him. Curiosity kills the cat but I'm not a cat
.
I was traveling home one vacation on the Indian railways, and slept for a few hours of the night before my station came. When I woke up, I noticed that my beautiful sandals were gone. Yup someone had stolen them. I walked barefeet to the waiting car outside the station.
Yup, I would have asked.
yes, I am a sucker for an interesting story.
Oh weird. The TTC is SO dirty!! I barely like to even sit. I don't think I would have asked him...I'm too shy.
my heart says yes, but in reality i would probably done the same as you did as i prefer not to offend anyone.
@Roadlesstaken - yeah, I did a quick google on walking barefoot and was surprised by how many people like to do this.
@Dezinerdreams - hahaha... I better not admit any more stuff in my comments.
@CareyGLY - I didn't have my camera with me.
@Fatcat723 - yeah, I know I couldn't go barefoot.
@AppsScraps - well, I was torn but I did want to respect his privacy and mind my own business.
@oxyGENE_08 - I wonder what that dream means.
@vsan79 - I should have had you beside me.
@TheCheshireGrins - oh, I was so curious but just couldn't do it.
@whoosh90 - neither am I... hahaha.
@ZSA_MD - I know you would have been very respectful if you did ask. I kept trying to think of how I should approach him but just couldn't do it.
@storyslut - hahaha... which would explain your xanga name?
@brooklyn2028 - yeah, it is dirty. I always cringe when I hold on to the poles. Some seats are kinda scary - now I'm worried about bed bugs.
@rudyhou - sigh... I wonder how he would have reacted.
probably would not have approached him...unless i had a foot fetish? lol
ok, the next time, make sure that you do. and then report back
this reminds me of two things... the barefoot running trend that is slowly becoming popular (why people want to run barefoot is beyond me, but apparently it doesn't hurt as much as you would think and it's better for your joints?!), and the weird thing i observed earlier this week. i walked into the restroom at work and happened to notice under the partition for the toilet stall bare feet! i couldn't understand it, as i noticed at the other end of the stall a backpack and a pair of shoes lying on the ground. did this person take off their shoes just to use the toilet? very strange...
@ElusiveWords - I never cared to find out.
That's rather odd...
haha. i would have done exactly the same thing that you did :]
but yeah, next time you should just say 'hi'... that will certainly lead the situation somewhere
I enjoy engaging people in polite curious conversations
but I really do have to be in the mood, so it really would
all depend on the situation for me.
I happen to enjoy being barefooted, though not really
while I'm out and about.
*~matthew~*
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