Years ago, I resigned myself to full-price shoes, and expensive ones at that. My feet think I’m rich — and European.

The Shoe Company has outlets in Ottawa, Kitchener and London, and I have even visited them a few times. Never have I ever found shoes there to fit my feet, never mind my orthotics or my life-style. They don’t sell the brands I like best: Mephisto and Beautifeel.

It’s been years since I wore shoes that weren’t basically sneakers except for the occasional funeral or concert performance. For those unavoidable occasions, I have a pair of carefully kept black leather Beautifeel pumps with low, broad heels. I can tolerate them for about two hours, maybe three. I bought them about 15 years ago, and they’ll do me for a while yet.