Size matters

I was trying to read my mail. For the older reader, this was my e-mail, not the bits of paper that used to flutter through the long-gone letterbox in my front door.
I found a modern-day answer to the question — does size matter?

Now I know, yes, size does matter.

After yet another power failure, I had to reset my computer. I then attempted to open my mail only to find a number of steps needed to be taken to restore my mailbox. As a first step, I confirmed that the number of my Smartphone was correct. Luckily, my Smartphone was in the right place, my hand. A few moments later it pinged — a message had arrived. The message contained a 15-digit code that I had to feed to my hungry computer. I quickly copied this down on a piece of paper before it could disappear, then carefully gave it to the computer.

I was rewarded with another message, addressed to me personally. Just one last check, it said — What is your shoe size?

Who would have thought that getting back in touch with the modern world would depend on knowing my shoe size?

Some important sizes of a very personal nature (I am of course speaking of one’s height) can be quickly measured with a tape measure, but shoe sizes are not so simple. There are US sizes, UK sizes and EU sizes. My loose and comfortable sandals are different from my carefully fitted hiking boots. Which one would let me back into my mail?

Fortunately, while my mail would not speak to me, my friend Google had no problem. He probably knew my shoe size but was not going to let me know just how much of my privacy he had invaded.

It seems that all shoe sizes measure the length of the shoe but do not measure exactly the same thing. And, while some systems indicate the shoe width using a number, others use one or more letters.

To prevent us from getting off on the wrong foot, there are different shoe-size systems for men’s, women’s, and children’s shoes.

In the end, we are strongly advised to try on shoes before they are purchased. This may help the buyer in the shoe shop but was not getting me any closer to reading my email. What should have been a shoe-in …

I thought, as one often does in times of difficulty, of the Japanese. They have an interesting proverb — The prettiest of shoes makes a sorry hat. But again, this told me nothing about my shoe size.

The Times of Israel accepts Blogs through their website, no email is needed. So, I’ll put my best foot forward. And, after all, size doesn’t matter.