I have had two pairs of boots that have lasted me many years in this business. They are both Danner Fort Lewis’s. Great boots that I have had resoled. Lately, my feet have been bothering me. If I wear too thick socks, the friction leaves my feet inflamed. Sometimes a day or so after a long shift, my feet will ache. I loved my boots so much, I did not suspect them. They have always treated me so well.
I finally looked and noticed, they are size 13s. A few years ago, I upped my sneakers to 14s, except when I played basketball, I kept them 13s for tighter support. I realize now my foot pain was being caused by my older larger feet being cramped into too small a space.
I decided to buy a new pair, but my beloved Fort Lewis’s are now over $400 a pair on Amazon, so I opted for the cheaper $200 Danner Tachyon Gore-Tex 8″ Tactical Boots. Tuesday was my first day on the job wearing them. I was back on the road again Wednesdayy, and so far no foot pain. These boots are much lighter, and while they don’t offer all the protection of the Fort Lewis’s, I don’t think at 67, working only 24 or so hours a month, I would get the use ahead out of those boots. I am near the end of the line for my EMS days.
Last week, I attended a wake for a man I used to work with many years ago in a volunteer town 33 years ago. Most of the old members were there. Sadly, I didn’t recognize some of them, they had aged so much. We all shared our medical tales, cancers, surgeries, aches and pain, too many medications. I feel there are more wakes ahead for this group in the next few years. I did feel like a spring chicken compared to some. A few of them marveled that I was still working.
This week walking up three flights of a narrow staircase, carrying my heavy gear, I was glad the emergency wasn’t too severe. No one was yelling at me to hurry. My right knee hurt with each step. I forgot to put my brace on that morning.
Driving through the city with a much younger partner, I had to suppress the urge to tell all my stories, the ghosts that live in the city, in each block, on each street, people I cared for, people no longer there.
I was thinking as we strapped a patient in, how many goddamned straps there are today. So many straps, it is hard to find which ones belt in where. When I started we had two straps, then three. I know they are important for patient safety. I have seen the crash test videos where the patient with just horizontal straps goes flying out of them. We have shoulder straps and crossing straps and straps, straps, straps. I feel like a crotchedy old man complaining of my frustration with such important devices. As with the electronic PCRs that take forever with all their check boxes, I longer for simpler times
Doing back to back 12s and having to get up both mornings at 4:10 has me beat. Last night my wife and I watched this British detective series on TV that we watch every night. The last couple nights she has fallen asleep before it is over, so we rewatch the episode before starting a new one. Last night we rewatched the night before then started a new one. I woke up on the love seat. My wife was asleep on the couch. Three episodes had played through while we slept.
It was busy Wednesday morning, four back to back calls right out of the gate. Then still an hour. Before I started writing this, I opened my door and stretched my long legs out the window and closed my eyes for a spell, the radio chattering on.
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From March 3, 2022
Old friends indeed. 15 years later I am still wearing them, I even bought a second pair seven years later. Both have been resoled so I always have a pair ready to go in case I misplace them, which hasn’t happened yet.. Not like stethoscopes, boots are hard to lose.
Bottom Line: Boots over stethoscope, No contest.
From December 25, 2015
Three sets of footprints in the snow. Two with fully defined treads. Mine barely register. I’m twelve years older than the two of my partners combined. This is my fifth pair of boots and the soles have gone smooth. I walk carefully. We do a call and I can’t make it up the icy driveway. I keep slipping down the incline. I have to hike up through the snow to get to the door. I have had this pair of Fort Lewis’s seven years, and they have stood me well. I order a new pair that night and they arrive on Christmas eve. I put them under the tree so I it will look like there are even more presents when my daughter awakes in the early hours and checks to see if Santa has come. In life we give way to youth, all of us do. We fade away. But I hope this new pair of working boots won’t be my last. I have more earth to tread on, more inclines to climb.
From March 23, 2007
Walking in them it’s like each foot is wrapped in velvet cushions and I am being lifted up by lush Princesses out of the Arabian nights. Good support too. $269 with tax. I figure I am going to be wearing them 60 hours a week every week on the calendar and every calendar year as long as my own soul doesn’t break away. You’ve got to take care of your feet and your ankles. So last night me and my new boots are on the job trudging through snow banks and puddles, carrying people down flights of stairs, answering calls. No blood or vomit on them yet. But already we feel like old friends.