From: Mike Berrow
Subject: Fried Old HealthReg Myths at the Diablo Cafe
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 21:45:17 -0800

Well, I finally got to use my copy of a health department letter.  I had been
carrying it around, folded up in my jacket pocket ready for the time I would
need it in some establishment.

My son and I stopped for breakfast before I dropped him off for a Saturday
morning event he attends. We went into a non-chain place called Diablo Cafe.
There were just two sets of customers in there. A lady was walking around with
a pot of coffee.

I asked her if we should order at the counter or just sit down.  "Just sit
down" she said. As we started toward some tables I head her say. "Err, do you
have some shoes?". I turned around and said "Pardon?".

Her:   "You don't have any shoes"
Me:   "I don't wear shoes"
Her:   "Well you need to have shoes to be in here"
Me:   "That's silly"
Her:   "Well, I have health regulations to deals with"
Me:   "Oh no you don't .... Let me set you straight on that account"

I pulled out the letter and set it out it on the counter. 

Me: "Let me educate you here. This letter is from the California Department of
Health. That yellow highlighted part is the main point".

She read that, looked up and smiled, then said "Well in that case, please sit
down!".

The service was great, the pancakes were fine and when I paid at the end, she
smiled and said "Thanks for educating me".  I left a really good tip :-)

I highly recommend carrying a health department letter if one is available for
your state (if you are in the U.S. , if not you probably don't have this type
of problem).

Current letters (for 38 US states) are on the Web at:
http://www.barefooters.org/health-dept/

I realize that the situation could just as easily have simply migrated on to
"Well then, it just our policy, or liability blah, blah". However, this was one
really notable victory I thought was worth sharing with you all.

I'm doing pretty good really. With the confidence (and a certain amount of
stealth) I've built up over the last three years ... I'm barefooting my way
through all stores (including malls), cinemas, theatres, most restaurants (some
I just enter with Birks put on for a couple of minutes) public transport, work
(except client meetings), and friends houses. .... and, of course, barefoot
hiking.

It took me a while to get here.  The worldwide network of barefooters and the
shared materials has been a tremendous help. I feel really comfortable and
happy with it. Even though (in the physical world) I'm usually the only one
barefoot.

I can safely say "I don't wear shoes" ...  unless (there always an "unless")
...  Unless there's Love, Money or Food involved.

Love: Someone I love is asking me nicely (and not unreasonably) to wear shoes.

Money: My livelihood is directly affected. I say "directly" because taking on
too many what-if's will make me live like a frightened rabbit.

Food: Really this is "Convenience". It means being in too much of a hurry and
not feeling up to dealing with the hassle of backing out and going elsewhere.

Of course, if I deem the ground to be dangerous, I'm going to wear shoes. But
that doesn't detract from "Barefoot as I wanna be". Where I live, this
(dangerous ground) happens VERY rarely.

Progressing as a barefooter, I think one comes to realize that most of the
battles are in your own mind. It took me 18 months to completely "barefootize"
my public transport route. It happened by slow degrees. There are about a dozen
different sections to it (walking, entering stations, boarding etc.)  and I
added them one at a time. Each time I thought "this is as far as I can go".

I hope this doesn't sound like bragging. I'm not really into one-upmanship. I
just wanted you newer barefooters to know that we understand that it takes
*time* to extend yourselves in this way. There's a long road from:
"Barefoot when others are"
     ... to
"Barefoot as I wanna be"

Good luck on the journey.  We are with you all the way.

-- Mike Berrow