We tend to think of inheritance as financial or heirlooms, or even stories. But there’s also genetics. Last year my Favorite Guy discovered he has a gene for a blood disorder, which may be why his father and grandfather both died in their forties. Why it took think long to show up, we have no idea? But it’s new technology, for which we’re grateful.
Besides letters and photos and stories, I inherited pes planus. Flat feet.
Babies are born with flat feet, according to the internet, and arches form as they begin to walk. Or not.
When my sis and I started swimming lessons, riding the school bus from Dexter to the pool in Adel, we noticed our wet footprints weren’t like the other kids’. More of a duck print than having that graceful swoop where the other kids had arches.
Laura Goff in front of her home with daughter Leora and their overflowing window box, Guthrie Center, Iowa, summer 1952. Her feet and ankles look like they ache.
Mom said we inherited our flat feet from Great Grandmother Laura Goff, and that she had as well. Great Grandma always wore black tie shoes and thickish tan stockings.
.
The winter before this photo was taken, she and Leora spent several weeks with Laura’s other daughter and a couple of sons, Wayne who lived in Pasadena. Leora and Wayne hiked to see the parade, but their mother, then age 83, was unable. Those darn flat feet cause everything to hurt when you get older.
.
When we were girls, Mom took us to a big-city foot specialist who prescribed rolling something round back and forth under our bare feet and picking up marbles with our toes to drop into a container. Also stiff inserts, which were uncomfortable.
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But our flat feet didn’t seem to slow us down so we abandoned the painful inserts and the not helpful exercises.
Four generations of oldest daughters: Laura Goff, Leora Wilson, Doris Neal, Joy Neal, Guthrie Center, Iowa, 1950s. Three of the four with flat feet.
But age happens. Mom got so she couldn’t walk well anymore, so when the Good Feet Store came to town, she bought a set of their inserts. She was back to shopping, strolling up and down aisles with a cart.
.
During the worst of early fibromyalgia, I didn’t have the energy for walking. Before that, I regularly hiked three miles a day. But when I’d try to mosey a little, my feet and legs rebelled. I tried other inserts but ended up at the Good Feet Store where Mom had bought relief.
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What a godsend! These aren’t cheap, but they work. It pretty well means tie shoes, but if I didn’t have these inserts, I couldn’t take an early morning stroll most days and enjoy another one at dusk. Oh, they are such favorite and grateful half hours of the day. Little brown bats in the air, fireflies glowing above neighboring lawns, an orb weaver beginning his nightly web, Venus gleaming above sundown.
I’m thankful Mom was able to enjoy relief, but I wish her Grandmother Goff could have as well. Laura Goff lived 94 years, from her birth three years after President Lincoln was assassinated until my freshman year in college.
Her stories are featured in Chapter 5 of Meadowlark Songs, from her birth in a log cabin to a few treasures she left behind. (I didn’t mention her flat feet.)
I don’t have flat feet, but I was experiencing considerable foot pain when I walked. It may have been on our very first cruise in 2011, that we encountered Good Feet. Doug and I each bought a pair and we’ve been better on our feet ever since, seeing the world in our retirement. Except, of course, when I fall down! I love these stories ❤️ 💕 ♥️
Hi Joy, I have flat feet too. As a teen and young adult I had those hard inserts because I did a lot of sport and developed knee issues due to flat feet. After I had my sons I only walked so I abandoned the inner soles. Last year I started getting lower back pain and now I have inner soles again. Initially my feet ached and ached but know I won’t be without them. My back is improved.
After standing on hard floors teaching seven hours a day, my feet–ankles, legs, and back–killed me. That only worsened after working for a while in a door factory, where I had to not only stand all day but also carry hollow-core doors in their frames and heavy, solid-core doors–all on concrete. I went to a podiatrist, who made hard resin arch supports for me. They worked great–until I stepped wrong on stairs one day and one broke. I could never glue, tape, or otherwise bond them back together. Too expensive to replace, and now all I can find are the flimsy, flexible things sold in the big-box stores that last only a few months before getting as flat as pancakes! It ain’t easy gettin’ old!
That is great that these inserts help!
And enjoyed learning more about your family experience with flat feet.
It reminded me that pre Vietnam war, flat feet
“was a strict disqualification because early military boots lacked support, making long marches painful and difficult for those with flat arches.”
Oh and those exercises were likely good for other things even if they did not help you with arches
–
I sometimes go to Sherry’s myofascial release yoga class – which has students rollijg balls around the foot – arches and sides – and using props like foam rollers or different size balls
And did you know the marble picking up with the feet (or lifting a tissue is a powerful
Exercise for focus and nerve health? I used to teach college and in some of our classes we did this to explore nerves and foot health
Also, my yoga teacher Fran always talks about the importance of toes and foot health for balance and lymph flow!
Hmmmmm
Thank you, Yvette! What fascinating details. I may have to do some more checking. Good Feet’s new ads talk about each foot having “four arches.” Here, we thought it was only one.
Wow – four!?
And in my mom’s side of the family they have the opposite problem with some folks / super high arches and almost a weird dancer look – my mom and my sis have that – and injustice the plain on simple arch
And on a side note
If I do a tough yoga class and I am not feeling strong – when we do a forward fold – you can put your hands under your feet so the toes touch the wrists (think one version is called gorilla pose) anyhow / I take the time to sneak in a little Massge to my arches and it calms my entire body and I think gives me some more umph! Even if it is just in my mind – hahaha
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Our minds are more powerful than we give them credit, huh Yvette!
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[…] Inheritance from Great Grandmother: Pes Planus by Joy on Joy Neal Kidney […]
I dated a guy with flat feet. Interesting to learn more about it. I didn’t realize we weren’t born with arches. I wonder how mine got so high? Glad to hear there is relief from those inserts.
If you’re walking and able to exercise because of your expensive shoes, you’re saving money you’d otherwise spend on healthcare. I’m glad your family found relief! 🙂
Oh my, the inserts were cheap compared to our healthcare these days. Wednesday was a $9000 infusion (for Crohn’s). I’m thankful Pfizer helps with most of it! And a CT scan Friday (enlarged aorta). Wonder how much that will be. (We don’t have Medicare, just Blue Cross/Blue Shield.) But the moseys are keeping me on my feet so far! (I’m thankful that Favorite Guy does a good job of keeping a notebook to keep track of each of our non-wellnesses!)
You’re in my prayers, Joy. Thankfully, you have the infusion available to help with your Crohn’s and your moseys for your feet. Kudos to your Favorite Guy! 😁🙏✝️🙏
Hmm, my husband has flat feet. I wonder if that might (in part) explain the aches and pains as he’s getting older.
It looks like if your arches are happy, it affects not only your feet but also legs, knees, and hips. Who knew?
I certainly didn’t!
I don’t have flat feet, but I was experiencing considerable foot pain when I walked. It may have been on our very first cruise in 2011, that we encountered Good Feet. Doug and I each bought a pair and we’ve been better on our feet ever since, seeing the world in our retirement. Except, of course, when I fall down! I love these stories ❤️ 💕 ♥️
Good Feet was on the cruise? What great marketing! Thank you, Gail!
I think it was very early days for the company.
Mom bought hers when they were new here. It seems like one of hers was leather.
Mine are leather, and still going strong.
Hurrah!
I wore arches when I was a kid. They really helped me to play sports. Now there are many more problems that arches can’t touch.
Bummer, but you’re right.
The things we inherit from our ancestors! I think I inherited my outspokeness from my great grandmother.
Wow, I love that. I bet there are stories as well!
Hi Joy, I have flat feet too. As a teen and young adult I had those hard inserts because I did a lot of sport and developed knee issues due to flat feet. After I had my sons I only walked so I abandoned the inner soles. Last year I started getting lower back pain and now I have inner soles again. Initially my feet ached and ached but know I won’t be without them. My back is improved.
Hurrah, Robbie!
After standing on hard floors teaching seven hours a day, my feet–ankles, legs, and back–killed me. That only worsened after working for a while in a door factory, where I had to not only stand all day but also carry hollow-core doors in their frames and heavy, solid-core doors–all on concrete. I went to a podiatrist, who made hard resin arch supports for me. They worked great–until I stepped wrong on stairs one day and one broke. I could never glue, tape, or otherwise bond them back together. Too expensive to replace, and now all I can find are the flimsy, flexible things sold in the big-box stores that last only a few months before getting as flat as pancakes! It ain’t easy gettin’ old!
Dennis, at your age, shoe inserts aren’t too expensive to replace! They’ll change your life, especially if they’re from the Good Feet people!
That is great that these inserts help!
And enjoyed learning more about your family experience with flat feet.
It reminded me that pre Vietnam war, flat feet
“was a strict disqualification because early military boots lacked support, making long marches painful and difficult for those with flat arches.”
Oh and those exercises were likely good for other things even if they did not help you with arches
–
I sometimes go to Sherry’s myofascial release yoga class – which has students rollijg balls around the foot – arches and sides – and using props like foam rollers or different size balls
And did you know the marble picking up with the feet (or lifting a tissue is a powerful
Exercise for focus and nerve health? I used to teach college and in some of our classes we did this to explore nerves and foot health
Also, my yoga teacher Fran always talks about the importance of toes and foot health for balance and lymph flow!
Hmmmmm
Thank you, Yvette! What fascinating details. I may have to do some more checking. Good Feet’s new ads talk about each foot having “four arches.” Here, we thought it was only one.
Wow – four!?
And in my mom’s side of the family they have the opposite problem with some folks / super high arches and almost a weird dancer look – my mom and my sis have that – and injustice the plain on simple arch
And on a side note
If I do a tough yoga class and I am not feeling strong – when we do a forward fold – you can put your hands under your feet so the toes touch the wrists (think one version is called gorilla pose) anyhow / I take the time to sneak in a little Massge to my arches and it calms my entire body and I think gives me some more umph! Even if it is just in my mind – hahaha
Our minds are more powerful than we give them credit, huh Yvette!
🤍🤍🤍
[…] Inheritance from Great Grandmother: Pes Planus by Joy on Joy Neal Kidney […]
I sure hope the inserts are helpful and you can cope with your flat feet get as good as you can, Joy.
No daily walks without them. Thanks, Tim!
😍
I am so glad you found help for your feet! Your walks sound magical! 🙂
I’m not steady on my feet. Even my husband is amazed that once I get moving, on much of my walk I look “normal.” Yes, a miracle!
I dated a guy with flat feet. Interesting to learn more about it. I didn’t realize we weren’t born with arches. I wonder how mine got so high? Glad to hear there is relief from those inserts.
Gifts from your ancestors!
If you’re walking and able to exercise because of your expensive shoes, you’re saving money you’d otherwise spend on healthcare. I’m glad your family found relief! 🙂
Oh my, the inserts were cheap compared to our healthcare these days. Wednesday was a $9000 infusion (for Crohn’s). I’m thankful Pfizer helps with most of it! And a CT scan Friday (enlarged aorta). Wonder how much that will be. (We don’t have Medicare, just Blue Cross/Blue Shield.) But the moseys are keeping me on my feet so far! (I’m thankful that Favorite Guy does a good job of keeping a notebook to keep track of each of our non-wellnesses!)
You’re in my prayers, Joy. Thankfully, you have the infusion available to help with your Crohn’s and your moseys for your feet. Kudos to your Favorite Guy! 😁🙏✝️🙏
Thank you, Nancy. We are so blessed even in the midst of our “unwellness.”