Why do dead people wear shoes?

Feet are not the most attractive part of our body, but they are necessary. They balance us when we get up in the middle of the night and stumble down the hall. They ache when we walk long distances. There would be no need for socks and shoes without feet.

Maybe it is the toes. Feet are nothing more than hands on the end of our legs. We got wiggly toes like our fingers but they are not really long enough to grab hold to branches but just the right size to stump into an inanimate object. We probably wouldn’t be athletes if that stuff that gathers up between our toes didn’t stink so much.

We abuse and misuse our feet to the point where it can affect our back and overall motion. Feet are like the forgotten member of the family. Perhaps they are too far away to get them close enough to your face to trim and pamper. There are those who will pedicure (at this point I gag) handling someone else’s foot (unless you are into that fetish) is just wrong. Even when the Prince slipped on the glass slipper to Cinderella, he held his breath.

The idea of laying in repose for others to view the body is creepy to me. Why are we interested (no fascinated) with looking at dead people? They may have been your friend or family members but they are dead. Done. Over. A corpse. It is an expensive horror story.

 When my dad died he was shipped down from RVA to NC and I have no idea what he was dressed in. Maybe just in a body bag or in hospital garb tied in the back. Once in the room trying to decide on the box to place him in, the ghoul who recorded our decision asked, “Would you like a suit?”

No one in the family had brought along his favorite suit because who thinks of that at that time? So we gave the ghoul the permission to purchase a acceptable business look for the audience while they were also draining his fluids and pumping him up and applying make up to make him look ‘real natural’.

Did they buy him wingtips? I have no idea because it was just a half-open coffin. Maybe he wasn’t wearing any shoes? Maybe he wasn’t wearing any pants?

When they drop the lid and dump the dirt, this caucus will be eternality wearing this suit. Don’t know if the color of tie or the coat would have been his preference but he didn’t have much say in the decision.

Yet the question comes back to shoes. Where are these folks going walking? Would it be better to give them slippers or some comfy sneakers or dare I say, barefoot? How many people wear shoes to bed?

So what about that suit? Wouldn’t you like to go into heaven wearing something comfortable like sweats or PJs? Maybe we should go just buck naked like we came in?

I see this photo of Aretha Franklin’s ‘viewing’ and her feet are stuffed into red stilettos heels. I understand the fashion requirements and the audience expectations, but really?

Maybe in our wills we should declare how we should be disposed of. Do you want a sharkskin suit or your mother’s favorite sweater?

In heaven when they hand you those wings, do you also get that white smock?