"What? Another pair of socks?!": John Keegan; Edgewater, FL...from Reminisce Magazine. I never realized why I was so obsessed with socks until a recent trip to the department store...

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

John Keegan; Edgewater, FL...from Reminisce Magazine.

I never realized why I was so obsessed with socks until a recent trip to the department store with m son. Once inside, he went his way, and I went mine...straight to the socks rack, as I routinely do. When we met up again, he took one look at my haul and asked, "Is that all you've been doing? Buying socks?"

On the way home, he asked why I was always buying socks. I guess my addiction started with WWII, when I fought in the Battle of the Budge. If you recall the story, we caught short with no supplies when the Germans broke through. So what you had was what you had, including one pair of cold, wet socks. They say it was one of the coldest winters in Belgium, so the unfortunate guys had frostbite; some lost toes.

Mind you, there were no tents or building to sleep in, just foxholes. And when you came back after fighting for your life all day, you were exhausted and had little sensation except the cold of your feet. You debated whether or not to take your shoes off...if you took them off, your feet would swell up, and you'd have trouble getting your shoes back on. In my case, I'd tempt fate and take them off. Inevitably, my socks would be soaked through, and I would hold them close to my body, hoping that they would dry. Then I would massage my feet, trying to keep the blood moving. From time to time, I thought, what would I give for a pair of new socks. Money? What good would that have done me then and there?

I finally got through the war and returned home, where a curious thing happened...every time I went t a store, I'd load up on socks. It almost became an issue with me and my dear wife, Mel. She'd say, "What? Another pair of socks?" It got so bad that if we were out shopping, I'd keep the socks hidden until I was home, then sneak them in and hide them in a drawer. When the drawer got full, I'd donate some to the Salvation Army, then buy more.

That obsession is with me to this day. The sock section is like a magnet...I head straight for it!
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As a 'Nam Vet, I can confirm many of my fellow Vets, in particular...the grunts, having similar memories/obsessions with fresh, clean socks.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

slatten49 wrote:

John Keegan; Edgewater, FL...from Reminisce Magazine.

I never realized why I was so obsessed with socks until a recent trip to the department store with m son. Once inside, he went his way, and I went mine...straight to the socks rack, as I routinely do. When we met up again, he took one look at my haul and asked, "Is that all you've been doing? Buying socks?"

On the way home, he asked why I was always buying socks. I guess my addiction started with WWII, when I fought in the Battle of the Budge. If you recall the story, we caught short with no supplies when the Germans broke through. So what you had was what you had, including one pair of cold, wet socks. They say it was one of the coldest winters in Belgium, so the unfortunate guys had frostbite; some lost toes.

Mind you, there were no tents or building to sleep in, just foxholes. And when you came back after fighting for your life all day, you were exhausted and had little sensation except the cold of your feet. You debated whether or not to take your shoes off...if you took them off, your feet would swell up, and you'd have trouble getting your shoes back on. In my case, I'd tempt fate and take them off. Inevitably, my socks would be soaked through, and I would hold them close to my body, hoping that they would dry. Then I would massage my feet, trying to keep the blood moving. From time to time, I thought, what would I give for a pair of new socks. Money? What good would that have done me then and there?

I finally got through the war and returned home, where a curious thing happened...every time I went t a store, I'd load up on socks. It almost became an issue with me and my dear wife, Mel. She'd say, "What? Another pair of socks?" It got so bad that if we were out shopping, I'd keep the socks hidden until I was home, then sneak them in and hide them in a drawer. When the drawer got full, I'd donate some to the Salvation Army, then buy more.

That obsession is with me to this day. The sock section is like a magnet...I head straight for it!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

As a 'Nam Vet, I can confirm many of my fellow Vets, in particular...the grunts, having similar memories/obsessions with fresh, clean socks.

John Keegan; Edgewater, FL...from Reminisce Magazi... (show quote)

I have, obviously, never been in battle; however, the sock buying battle gene is with me. Every single winter; once a month, I buy a new three pack of wool socks. I have been known to wear a pair of cotton socks under my wool socks. My addiction includes seven pair of fluffy sleep socks.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

AuntiE wrote:

I have, obviously, never been in battle; however, the sock buying battle gene is with me. Every single winter; once a month, I buy a new three pack of wool socks. I have been known to wear a pair of cotton socks under my wool socks. My addiction includes seven pair of fluffy sleep socks.

Really...never been in battle

You've battled numerous times with me (and others) over the most minute matters.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

slatten49 wrote:

Really...never been in battle

You've battled numerous times with me (and others) over the most minute matters.

As all references to "battle" were related to physical foreign wars, my statement was an accurate fact. As to having "battled numerous times with" you, I consider it not "battle" as you are pitifully weaponized.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

AuntiE wrote:

As all references to "battle" were related to physical foreign wars, my statement was an accurate fact. As to having "battled numerous times with" you, I consider it not "battle" as you are pitifully weaponized.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

slatten49 wrote:

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

AuntiE wrote:

"Revenge is best served cold."

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

slatten49 wrote:

"Revenge is best served cold."

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

No need to show your ice.

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Your story, slatt, is moving...Another inner look at what you whom served, bring home in memory...A simple pair of clean sox....

I think I shared this before, but not sure... Anyway on Thanksgiving I like to go and serve the homeless...In any number of discussions with them, they relate to sox being a never ending need... Why?? Because as a homeless person if you don't want to be "hassled by the cops, " you stay moving...Rain or dry, your moving, usually to the next place to wait in line for a meal..
Clean Sox something they are always looking for, often not having the .50* Or a dollar to buy them at the Salvation Army.. It moved me to hear their stories and what seems a simple need for us is for them most difficult....

Anyway, after that I started collecting sox and kept them in the trunk of my car in a box... As I would see them on the streets I'd pull over and give them a couple pair... You just don't know how humbling it is to see someone look at you with eyes of a child getting a new toy...While I couldn't do more, I knew at least his feet would be clean, dry and keep him moving...

I still do it to this day although my son wishes I wouldn't... Do you know in the time I have done this I never had a bad expierence with anyone...