From: Jay H. Buzin
Subject: barefoot hiking
Date: Fri, 22 Mar 96 17:50:55 EST

Hi Paul,
  I couldn't help but notice your picture on the cover of the Sports
section in a paper that happened to be sitting in our break-room at work
here, down in Pasadena CA.  Some time ago I was mailed a flyer from my
sister (who lives in Concord) along with a copy of The Barefoot Hiker,
which pleased me a great deal.
  Back in around July of '68 I was attending summer school, walking the
1.5 miles each way, and for some reason began to do it without shoes. It
was a curious thing. No one else was doing it. I wasn't into drugs or
anything like that. It was, and just became, "me."
  Thru the years that followed high school, before, during, and after
college; I became known as "the guy who walks all over." It was not
uncommon to see me most anywhere in the San Fernando Valley without shoes,
walking. People couldn't understand it. They couldn't even comprehend the
idea of "walking"; let alone barefoot.
  Upon turning 40 years old, after having taken a lot of flack for 25
years, I began to reconsider my personality. Perhaps, I thought, I was too
old to be running around without shoes. Conformity was setting in.
  In any event, not to go on and on with my life story, I've become a
little bit smarter about when and why to wear shoes. I still love the
feelings of which you are well aware. It's good to know that I'm not alone
in that respect.
  Glad to be reminded.

  Thanx, J :-)