Apolonia was a teenager during WWII and lived in an area of Poland where two countries occupied her hometown, at separate times.  Both the Germans and the Russians prohibited many things that once brought her much happiness.  After the war she had no choice but to marry my grandfather Stanislaw as arranged by her family in order to provide for them.  In the midst of stifling socialism she lovingly birthed four children and learned to accept a life of constant compliance.  Apolonia played out her days at 10 Rocky Lane, never tasting a life full of choices.

Today at 86 years young, she finds herself in America.  And in need of new shoes.

My mother guided Apolonia to the sensible shoe section that ladies her age deem comfortable.  They never made it to that far corner of the store and instead focused on the newest spring line.  Six inch platform sandals found themselves in the wrinkled hands of a woman that remembered a similar style she wore before the war.  Pink open toed pumps with a leather flower detail made her giggle like a school girl.  A zebra stripped stiletto was deemed beautiful enough to be displayed in an art gallery. Shoe after shoe, each choice better than the first, Apolonia asked to sit down.

The sales lady carried boxes stacked on boxes of shoes that Apolonia begged to try on.  Although each shoe was beyond perfect in the mind of a woman who refused to age in spirit, nothing fit correctly on her aging foot.  When the associate recommended she try something with less of a heel and more for a woman nearing ninety Apolonia spat, "I wear nothing less then three inches."  When the associate revealed the contents of one box that might be good for her bunions Apolonia spat, "I'd rather die now then walk a day in those."  The scene continued and Apolonia stubbornly grew more realistic.

"Now that I have so many choices, my feet don't agree."

Four generations of stiletto-loving Karwowski women.

Giveaway here.