A Matter of Principle and Common Sense

I have always considered marching in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade a tremendous honor and privilege and one of the most exhilarating and exciting events of my year. Indeed, the march up Fifth Avenue alongside my beloved fellow graduates of the prestigious St. Vincent’s Hospital School of Nursing, NY, NY stands out as one of the greatest memories of my lifetime. But sadly, I am not marching this year. “Why not march” you ask, “if you enjoy it so very much?”

When I received the green post card “ St. Patrick’s Day Parade - Come Represent St. Vincent’s and March” I was filled with mixed emotions. My initial reaction was excitement. My mind flooded with the wonderful, heartfelt memories of past marches: my very first March on St. Patrick’s Day in 1963 when, for the very first time, I got to wear the uniform of an upperclassman and another special March many years later when I met up with a beloved classmate and friend, Mary Geraldine (Gerry) Crowley Fahey. We were the only members of the class of 1965 who marched that year but it was a wonderful experience nevertheless. Several years later, we had spoken on the phone and were planning to march again on March 17, 2006 before her sudden, untimely death on March 8th of that year. Nonetheless, I marched anyway, filled with love and emotion, as I carried my dear friend in my heart.

Several years ago, and the last time I marched in the NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade, I took Amtrak from Albany-Rensselaer Station downstate to NYC Penn Station. Being an obedient woman,  I was wearing my “business attire” and carrying my “business, professional-looking shoes in a bag . I decided to wear more appropriate footwear (i.e., sturdy, walking sneakers) as I walked from Penn Station to our designated line-up spot on Madison Avenue. I am an avid walker and at the age of 73, I still try to keep fit with brisk three mile walks several times a week. I also have an MS in Health Education from Russell Sage College and learned some things about health and wellness.

Shortly before we were given the signal that we were “on the move” I questioned my decision to change out of my sneakers, but was convinced by other very obedient graduates to bag the sneakers and don my sturdy business shoes. Against my better judgment, I removed my sneakers.  Even though my professional shoes were certainly sturdy, this proved to be a rather costly mistake! As a result of this error, I developed plantar fasciitis for which I was prescribed rather expensive orthotics. Without sharing all the boring details, the orthotics caused me to slide across my kitchen tiles and injure my knee. This led to several visits to an Orthopedic Specialist. My knee has never been the same. I learned an expensive and life altering lesson as a result of this experience and the purpose of this blog entry.  I want to share this important message with you:  Do not obey foolish rules. 
We are Registered Nurses, role models of good health practices, and we should know better.

Now I wear appropriate, supportive sneakers each and every time I go out for a walk.  My sneakers are expensive but they are not black! I quote from the little green post card, “ ….If you need to wear sneakers, only black sneakers are permitted.” Who the hell ( pardon the hell word but it is the only word that really expresses this point adequately) wears black sneakers?!! I’d love to march, but I do not care to take the rather major trek from Upstate New York to Manhattan to be told I can’t march because my $130 pair of sneakers, don’t meet the requirements. Even if this a parade committee requirement - separate and apart from a SVH Alumnae requirement - it should be challenged.  Remember, as we have been told on numerous occasions over the years, we are "cream of the crop nurses".   We must promote sound health and wellness practices.  Let us be role models for the rest of the marchers.  Wearing state of the art footwear appropriate for this type of physical activity should be our first step as we march proudly with our fellow graduates. 

PS. The photo above is a picture of my marvelously effective sneakers.  They have done a wonderful job of allowing me to continue my regular walking regime.  Hopefully by next year, I will be "allowed" and encouraged to wear them as I proudly represent my Alma Mater in the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

So I have learned a few things since posting this Blog entry. Black Sneakers are more popular than I originally suspected. They are not simply "nun shoes" or "old lady" shoes. My 41 year old son tells me they are very acceptable alternatives to any other color sneaker. Some can more easily pass as dress shoes. Possibly, I, myself, should buy a pair for every day living in place of the shoes I currently wear for housework, food shopping, etc. I still would need a rather expensive pair as I need a sneaker with a very good arch support to keep my plantar fasciitis at bay. I also discovered that several of the really cool ladies from the Class of 1965 wear black sneakers so that realization alone has elevated the acceptability of wearing black sneakers in my mind. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me. Whatever your decision , make sure you wear appropriately supportive footwear as you walk up 5th Avenue on St. Patrick's Day ♦️♦️

I grew up with the most wonderful Dad.  He felt the content of your heart was much more important than the clothes/footwear you wore.   I still believe that supportive footwear when you march should be the priority, whatever the color.    I did not mean to insult or belittle anyone who wears black sneakers and I apologize for  my statement "who the hell wears black sneakers, anyway?".  I honestly was concerned about coming all the way down from Albany, NY to march in the NYC St. Patrick's Parade and then being told I was inappropriate because my sneakers were not black. 

I will have to save up my money and decide whether I want to invest in a black pair of supportive sneakers for next year's March.  I am growing more fond of the idea of owning black sneakers but I certainly think it is foolish to buy a pair for just one day a year ( especially at my age - LOL). 

Mary Beth Fries Buchner, RN