It' s A Crock

Well, I am going to devote my little blog today to shoes. Specifically crocs. Now, I love me some shoes. I would not want to even gestimate on how many pairs I've had over the years or how many I own at the moment. In my older years I can no longer wear heels but man, these new little flats just drive me wild. I can't seem to get enough of them.

Now comes the crocs. I am sure I don't have to describe them. I doubt there is one of you who doesn't know what they are. Several years ago while in Flordia, my son-in-law, Tom, just had to have a pair. They weren't cheap and if my memory serves me correctly, they started a small war when he bought them. My son hates crocs. Anyway, eventually later that same year the crocs started showing up in the north and more and more, they became popular. Now Tom wanted his for something easy to slip on to take the dog outside. They are sure good for that. I bought a pair to wear around the house for cleaning, etc. and they are sure good for that.

Then the nursing industry got involved. I think medical supply magazines always sold a similar washable clog to the doctors and nurses; but suddenly you could get these cheaper and more abundantly. They came in great colors. Knock-off's became popular and they are super comfortable. With nursing scrubs, they can look great to match an outfit. How good they are for being on your feet all day? That I wouldn't want to guess on but I wear mine all the time around the house and my feet feel great.

One of the things that became popular a couple years ago was charms you could buy to put into the holes of your crocs. Because they are rubber, there has to be vents, so there are holes. Now the picture above is deceiving because mine are cheap imitations so the holes are rather large.

I don't wear these anywhere in public. I do have one pair of "real" Crocs that I sport to the grocery store once in awhile, but that is the extent of my public display of them.

At the hospital where I work (and I won't mention any names for those of you who don't know me), the wearing of Crocs and knock-off crocs has become big. I think some people have a color to match every scrub. Money was invested. Suddenly we get a directive from HR saying that a new nursing policy is not going to allow any shoes with holes, specifically Crocs, even if you fill the holes with charms. They gave a time line so to "...allow ample time to change to other acceptable shoes in the event you currently only wear these shoes to work." Now there is the crock!!! They didn't offer to give you any money to replace these shoes ... just get rid of them. I supposed they are standing behind the supposition that the holes are unsanitary. But, Crocks can be washed rather easily and I'd rather see that than some of the dirty sneakers I've witnesses. Yeah, go ahead and clean the garage and mow the grass, and then wear your dirty shoes to work. Well then they should stop the girlie doctors from wearing flip flops all summer. What about the clerks and administrative people (even in HR) that show up in slides and strapy sandals? I don't care if you don't work in a clinical area, rules are rules, and eventually you will show up near a patient with your dogs sticking out. And are visitors going into patient rooms going to have to change??? They all wear flip flops or some show up in bedroom slippers, filthy ones at that.

This isn't a blog for clogs or Crocs. It isn't against Crocs. It is against being told what to wear when the rules don't fit everyone. That seems unfair to me. That is a crock!!!!