Unsurprisingly, I tore up my feet a bit during my 6-hour, extremely intense hike on Monday. The fact that I was wearing Doc Martens and socks chosen primarily for their pretty pattern and not for their ability to keep my feet dry probably had a great deal to do with that. In any case, I am now dealing with the consequences of these two (obvious in hindsight) very poor choices. And this means Bandaids.
This morning as I was removing yesterday’s bandages from my heels, I was struck by how terribly they actually work. I mean, they certainly do an okay job of certain things. Like keeping my feet from bleeding all over my socks. And from becoming even more raw or blistered. But taking those things off after they’ve run their course is kind of a dangerous proposition in and of itself. If the adhesive is good enough to last throughout the day, it’s guaranteed to act as the most powerful exfoliant you’ve ever encountered and can even be the cause of new injuries.
What I want to know is, why are inventions allowed to be so dysfunctional? Bandaids that cause injuries. Shoes that cause foot and back problems. Glasses lenses that get scratched really easily and make it even more difficult to see than without any glasses at all. If Everything I did had the exact opposite of the intended effect, I’m pretty sure people would stop requesting my services. But not so with these products. It’s kind of ridiculous, really. Especially when I consider the other products that 3M (the makers of my bandages) makes. Like those adhesive strips that will attach anything to the wall, then come off really easily and without taking paint off. Why can’t they do that? I am infinitely more attached (literally and figuratively) to my feet than I am to my walls. I really feel like whoever was on the team that created the bandaids whose adhesive residue has caused most of today’s sock material to remain stuck to my feet should really be made to come back and fix their invention. As should the people who invented pantyhose, crinoline, high heels, the lids for takeout coffee, saran wrap and rice cakes. The people who invented that last item should at least be forced to change the name of their product. Cakes do not taste like packing peanuts.
