From: Mike Wright
Subject: Re: Age and barefooting
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 08:48:38 -0600

I would agree that as I've gotten older (now the ripe old
age of not quite 43...) I find I frequently don't care much
what other people think.  Sometimes I do, but it's less
often.   I figure it's my life, not somebody else's

Perhaps it's because I live in Iowa where people
can be frustratingly polite/timid, but almost never do I
get negative comments about being barefoot.  I get
comments registering disbelief (such as on a birding
trip over the weekend--"No shoes?" "Nope."  "OK, it's
your life."  (Like I'm going to die?)) or maybe stares, but very few 
negatives.  Could this be due to the hair (what's left
of it) going grey?   It could also be because I teach at
the college in our small town & we're all expected to
be a little bit off-plumb ;)

And I should add that that first "sir" can sting...

Mike Wright