The 27th

My barefoot wanderings took me to a few places. No pictures up yet because I'm on the iPad.

I went to return some DVDs to Shaws. No problems at all. Thank God.

We also had to pick up some stuff at CVS. Again it was a nice stop with no prejudice or hate.

I went to a restaurant called W.B. Cody's and was told I needed shoes. I went back to the car because my family was with me and they don't yet fully support me. When I came back I was in the doorway putting on my cut sperry topsiders the woman came back and said it's a law and I informed her that it is not a law. She then childishly responded yes it is. She clearly doesn't know how to argue. You don't just say the same thing over again. Anyway I said that the law is a myth nowhere in america are there laws against being barefoot. I told her to look it up. She said she could get fined if a health inspector saw that. I told her she really needs to do her research because she is dead wrong.

On our way out I was going to present her with the paper FROM THE RHODE ISLAND DEPT OF HEALTH proving she was wrong. But my family didn't want to deal with it and insist I'm being disrespectful and ridiculous. So I am going to go back there probably today and I'm going to leave those new fact sheets I got from vistaprint. I really like that place and I am not going to be kicked out by a non existent law or by prejudiced ignorant employees. I have my rights to be barefoot especially since it's for my health! Hopefully this ignorance and injustice will fade away with the rest of these petty people. I am not giving up!

As always,

Barefooting is easy
Barefooting is good for you
Barefooting is NOT illegal
Join the revolution
GO BAREFOOT

Please comment!

LOTS of snowfooting and some tolerance!

My father woke me up around 9:00 AM and asked if he wanted to go to breakfast. I said "Absolutely!" I rolled out of bed, took a shower, brushed my teeth and got dressed. As I took my first step into the then centimeter deep snow, my father said "You know I seem to remember you saying you were going to put on some shoes when it started snowing." To which I replied, "Dad, I said they'd be my heavy snow boots. (vff's)" I stepped out of the car and onto the street. I had my first few steps into some fairly fresh snow. Once I hit the rock salt the difference was shocking. That stuff hurts more than glass.

Anyway I got into the restaurant without being noticed, took my seat and had a fantastic meal.

Throughout my entire meal no one spotted my feet that I saw.

On the way out I snapped a few more pictures of me and I am pretty sure our server saw me but didn't comment.

At the front desk the cashier noticed and asked me where my shoes were. I told her and as understandably surprised as she and everyone else would be, she was mature and accommodating enough to not even challenge me and simply said she would keep hers on. It's really nice to have places that don't think its necessary to make up rules to keep people out.

I figured I'd leave my mark on the streets.

I made it into Home Depot barefoot. I walked around a little, then with my father went to pay a bill. On our way out another cashier saw my lack of shoes and again asked if I was freezing. I said no and it's absolutely worth no back pain. She expressed a lot of interest in it which was nice. Again the mythical law was not even brought up. I was really happy to see this.

On the way back we stopped at a family friends house and spent a great deal of time talking about philosophy, art, and the world. Always a pleasure to see him. He too was very intrigued with my bare feet. It really seems like more and more people are being respectful and I really appreciate it. So, 

To the world,

A BIG THANKS FOR GIVING ME A FAIR SHOT AT EQUAL RIGHTS

I got back home and spent the rest of the day helping my father organize the cavernous mess that is the garage. We got a lot of stuff done today but to someone who didn't see it beforehand, it still looks like a mess. Oh well progress isn't always obvious.

Barefooting is easy,
Barefooting is good for you,
Barefooting is NOT illegal,
Join the revolution,
GO BAREFOOT!

Please comment!

Merry Christmas! There's a video in the works too!

I am working on a YouTube video I call "No Shoes, No Service." It's a bunch of pictures of me in various establishments. I'm debating whether or not to put the establishments names in or not. What do you think world? Do tell!

Barefooting is easy,
Barefooting is good for you,
Barefooting is NOT illegal,
Join the revolution,
GO BAREFOOT!

Christmas Eve!

My day started around ten in the morning when I took my girlfriend to breakfast in New London. A customer took it upon himself to report me to the manager. It was fine though because we were on our way out and the lady is really nice and is a friend of ours. Anyway once we got back to our hometown we went to a shopping plaza to grab some last Christmas gifts for her friends. Our first stop was pier 1 imports.

Many people in the store saw my barefootedness but no employees commented. They also did have giant spoons and forks, definitely wanted them but they were $70.00

The store directly next to it was TJMaxx. I had absolutely no problem sneaking in there either. In both places I scattered a few cards hoping to get some visitors. I think putting my cards in the shoe department was rather clever. Anyway thats all I have for today. Tomorrow we have a lunch with a client of my father's at the Ocean House, should be great. 

Barefooting is easy,
Barefooting is good for you,
Barefooting is NOT illegal,
Join the revolution,
GO BAREFOOT!

Please comment!

Old video

This video I actually made for a class. It was to make a video about my city and it had to be positive. Cool thing is, I didn't realize it could be a barefoot video.

The Good Life

Barefooting is easy,
Barefooting is good for you,
Barefooting is NOT illegal,
Join the revolution,
GO BAREFOOT!

Custom Vibrams

I ordered a pair of Vibram Five Finger KSO's a long time ago. I barely ever use them being an avid barefooter. I noticed though, the few times I was supposed to wear them, some formal occasions, and at the occasional request of my parents the neon green tan weren't exactly formal.

So what I have decided to do is sharpie the tan parts of my KSO's black so they look a lot cooler now I think. I have a silver fabric marker so I might draw some stuff on them as well. The silver thought might ruin the questionably formal look now though. Oh well, any of you who are not quite courageous enough to go full on barefoot, or at a job that being barefoot at is impractical or unsafe, Vibrams are a good buy.

Barefooting is easy,
Barefooting is good for you,
Barefooting is NOT illegal,
Join the revolution,
GO BAREFOOT!

Pequot Trip

Todays barefoot wanderings took me to my old high school dropping my girlfriend off, then off to Connecticut. We spent our time wandering the grounds in and around the Pequot Reservation. Stop offs included, Friendly's restaurant, a development on the reservation, a stream beside it, the museum, and the Mystic Pizza II restaurant. I was not once confronted about my lack of shoes and got the chance to drop off a lot of cards around.

Friendly's

Walking around on a lightly dusted path

Beside a spring with my shod brother

 

Lovely little waterfall on a stream in Connecticut

 

The top floor of the Pequot Indian Museum

My feet looking at all the people gambling their money away

 

Persuaded him to kick off his shoes

Barefoot in Mystic Pizza II with my brother, the kid fly fisherman

His Blog

Outside the Pizza place walking back to the car. Lots of fun today.

Barefooting is easy,
Barefooting is good for you,
Barefooting is NOT illegal,
Join the revolution,
GO BAREFOOT!

Lovely Evening

I saw my brother's concert tonight (www.youtube.com/harrisongatch) and after the concert was the reception at the Ocean House. The first thing I noticed were the exquisite gingerbread houses in the main lobby.

My father's Avondale Barn

Westerly Armory

The Ocean House thing off of the left. I had a nice conversation with a local store owner who lets barefooters in. 

His policy is: 

"Hey can I come in here with bare feet?" "Do you have money?" "Yes." "Ok come on in!" 

He's such a cool guy, clearly ahead of the curve on barefooting.

Pizza Place again barefoot. Wasn't noticed by the staff but I did have a great conversation with my eighth grade teacher who was very interested in my barefootedness.

 

Posing happily in the restaurant. Really am loving the fact my town is getting more and more hospitable.

After dinner my brother and I had a fantastically liberating jog through the park in the snow. I really thought it would be difficult and cold. It was no problem at all and it felt soooooo great. Tomorrow I am going up to Plymouth Mass with my father and my brother. I can't wait for another snow walking adventure it will be great.

Barefooting is easy,
Barefooting is good for you,
Barefooting is NOT illegal,
Join the revolution,
GO BAREFOOT!

Nearly 2,000 views!

This blog has been viewed nearly 2,000 times! Since my last post a few days ago about reaching 1,500 views, there have been over 400 more. To me thats great news. My mission remains the same, to try to dispel rumors and ignorance about being barefoot, and to spread the word to help inspire more to kick off their shoes forever.

I picked my girlfriend up from school and was questioned by the kids a lot. Some of the people that had seen me the past few days were now talking to me instead of just muttering among their groups. I have passed out more cards hoping to get more visitors and more supporters. I also ran into my cousin, a fellow graduate of the High School and we had a good talk as always, he laughingly commented on my feet to which I responded, "it's like 40 out c'mon man!"

Anyway I am going to a meal at the Ocean House in Watch Hill. It should be fantastic. I will post a few pictures when I get back.

Barefooting is easy,
Barefooting is good for you,
Barefooting is NOT illegal,
Join the revolution,
GO BAREFOOT!

A store owner actually was hospitable to me

I throughout the day went into many different places. Most of them I was not noticed. My stops today included.

ACE Hardware

No one noticed

NAPA auto parts

Same

Shaws market

At Shaws I was actually spotted at the cashier line. A woman said OH NO SHOES? More shocked than irritated. I explained and she didn't even ask me to leave or bring up I shouldn't be in there. Maybe people around here are starting to get a little more mature and learn to accept different lifestyles.

FIVE GUYS

 I have never been confronted or even asked here so I don't know whether of not they approve

Later that night I revisited the Mystic Village to do some shopping. I entered many stores without shoes, none noticed, except one. The store that I refer to as the "Nordic Store" was one of my last stops. I was very quickly noticed by a few people inside. It wasn't until one of the employees started talking to me that I got an actual question. "Vher ahr hyour shoes?" in a Scandinavian accent. I answered and actually had a really cool conversation with this woman. She eagerly showed me off to her co workers calling me a "viking boy." She asked me all about why I do it and thought it was hilarious I had papers proving there is no law against barefooting. I grabbed what I needed, wished her a nice night along with all of the  employees and managers, and set out into the night. 

I got a few questions from bystanders in the walkways in the village, they were all so shocked to see me and very interested in my behavior. Every day I try to change hearts and minds and it really seems like its working. Every day the world is slowly getting more and more used to the barefooters. We are here to stay.

Barefooting is easy,
Barefooting is good for you,
Barefooting is NOT illegal,
Join the revolution,
GO BAREFOOT!

Pretty Relaxed Day

After melting glass barefoot with my friend Alex last night, I fell into bed around 2:00 AM. I woke up to a Japanese rockstar singing in my ear, my alarm clock. It was 6:00AM. Since I got back before our local high school let out for break, I decided to pick up my lovely girlfriend and drive her to school. As I walked her to class she said I looked like a hobo, but thats ok.

After I dropped her off I saw a friend of mine and gave him my card. As soon as I got home I immediately fell into bed. My father and I went to lunch at the local 99 restaurant. As we expected, the food was sub par, but  I got in easily without shoes. Perhaps because I live in a beach community?

After lunch I went to pick her up from school. I was immediately met with a lot of scrutiny from the younger kids but thats fine,  I was able to give out several cards so maybe there will be some more traffic here. After school, we went down to Watch Hill so I could do some more ice walking. It really did feel good, very stimulating.

After dinner with her family, I drove home. My gas tank was below empty so I decided to fill up at 7/11. barefoot I walked into the store, paid for my gas, and pumped my fuel, no problems at all. I am really very glad less and less people are giving me a hard time about this.

Barefooting is easy,
Barefooting is good for you,
Barefooting is NOT illegal,
Join the revolution,
GO BAREFOOT!

1500 views!

Well thats sweet, this blog has been viewed by 1500 people all over the world! Lets hope that this blog has convinced at least one person to take off their shoes. Anyway to other business. I joined the Society for Barefoot Living. (I strongly encourage you google it) I also made a stencil I can spraypaint. (on legal places ofcourse) The raw stencil is below.

On the toes, which I actually wrote on my toes for

the photo are the words 

"DO IT 2 HEAL!" 

Hopefully that will do a little to raise awareness.

Barefooting is easy,
Barefooting is good for you,
Barefooting is NOT illegal,
Join the revolution,
GO BAREFOOT!

Home Sweet Home

I am finally back home in my town of Westerly. I drove down to Watch Hill where I grew up. It was a lovely frozen windswept hellscape, I was so glad to be back. I passed by all four people in town at that point, two contractors and a photographer and girlfriend. I walked on ice barefoot for the first time I can remember. I have to say it was not nearly as bad as I pictured it feeling. It felt kind of good.

Home Sweet Home

Barefooting is easy,
Barefooting is good for you,
Barefooting is NOT illegal,
Join the revolution,
GO BAREFOOT!

Long time, no post.

Hey world. Since I have gotten back to my hometown I have been doing just as much barefooting. At my least meal at college before winter break I was barefoot in a hall that had kicked me out earlier this year.

I also went to Conn College's dining hall and library barefoot. No problems.

Another stop yesterday was the Pizza Place restaurant in Westerly.

I went to my brother's dress rehersal for Amahl and the night visitors. Barefoot ofcourse I was in and out working on another actors blackberry. Half the cast was barefoot because it takes place at the time of Jesus. What did they know that we lost?

Anyway right now I'm at a subway with my father and grandfather. People are staring but not confronting. So world thats my day so far.

(update) Talked to two WWII veterans one Eighth Air Force, and one USMC, they were very curious about my feet. The wife was actually more approving than the vets who took a more whatever works for you good for you attitude. Heading out right now to Alex's house this should be fun.

As always,

Barefooting is easy,
Barefooting is good for you,
Barefooting is NOT illegal,
Join the revolution,
GO BAREFOOT!

I am going on christmas break!

Hopefully it'll be nice an snowy so I can test my endurance in snow. I am going out for a walk today, hopefully I get lots of questions being its my last day for a few weeks in Prov. Oh well. I got away with yet another meal at the burger joint. At least 15 different employees from there and the next room Starbucks walked right by me and didn't challenge me on my bare feet. Maybe at least on my campus people are starting to wise up. I can only hope it'll continue. Anyway, heading out and shutting this computer down till I get back in early January. I will still post but more likely the majority of my posts will be tweets.
http://twitter.com/provBarefooter
Apologies,
But as always,

Barefooting is easy,
Barefooting is good for you,
Barefooting is NOT illegal,
Join the revolution,
GO BAREFOOT!

My doctor approves :D

I saw an accupressurist who I basically refer to as my doctor because I trust him a lot more than the people that like to just pump you full of pills and side effects. Anyway, heres our text conversation. Yeah, I text my doctor epic right?

"---------, did I tell you that I found a permanent solution for my back pain?

No, what?!

Strangely enough, I stopped wearing shoes. My backpain, Sleepyness, and general blah feeling has disappeared. I haven't worn shoes since June and I also haven't gotten sick. By this time I've usually had 3 to 4 colds

This is because you are very bright, and can see clearly, good for you!!!! Proud of you!!!! The earth is the perfect grounding and leverage for your spine and health, you're connected, Bravo! lets talk christmas break."

God hes the man!

Anyway world, I'm going for a run.

Barefooting is easy,
Barefooting is good for you,
Barefooting is NOT illegal,
Join the revolution,
GO BAREFOOT!

Reply

I got a reply from security at the mall today.

"Mr. Gatch,

Maybe in my first email I didn't clarify all the points I attempted to make so I will try again.

1) We do not accept individual waivers of liability.  Its hasn't happened in the past and will not happen in the future.  If the mall owners (GGP) feels that situations require individual wavers of liability then the Legal Dept. will work on such an item and they will become the standard within the mall.  But as of today they don't accept them and there are [does he mean no?] plans to accept them in the future so this is not a realistic possibility.

2) Presently you are right there is no need to be the feet police because everyone who enters wears shoes or something covering their feet.  We know that we don't have to worry about where people step because their feet are protected by shoes.  It is only when people start walking around the mall barefooted that we need to concern ourselves with where peoples feet have been.  Bare footed people then become a concern not only for anything they may bring in on their feet but also from what they could contract from the carpets by walking around bear footed.  Solution is wear something to protect the feet, then the issue is non-existant.

3) Good old fashioned American discrimination?  Discrimination is discrimination, I don't feel American's have the market cornered on it or display a distinct brand of discrimination.  But either way I don't feel you have the facts correct.  We do ask people to leave if they display violent or profane messages on their clothing, this to [too?] is unacceptable.  We do require patrons to not disrupt the experience of others with clothing issues ie. to [too?] revealing, obscene messaging and or violent messaging but also personal hygiene could be an issue that would warrant asking someone to leave.

4) Finally I truly find it hard to believe that you think being inside a mall presents "All the world has to Offer".  Its a mall!  You shop here , eat here, go to the movies here, then leave and go experience the world.  Malls are places of necessity not a place where one experiences all the world has to offer. 

In conclusion I understand you have been suffering with back pain for the 16 of your 18 years on this planet.  Its amazing that your recall of the pain from the age of two is still with you and but hopefully someone will diagnose what your specific ailment is and provide you with a corrective solution. Ultimately to come into the mall you will be required  to wear shoes, or shoes type foot covering

I hope this clarifys any misunderstandings that may have existed from the previous email..

---------------"

First of all wow. He seemed angry...he is still ignoring the fact I am totally willing to release them from liability, if not an individual form then through their legal department. It is all American discrimination because for most of the rest of the world, this isn't an issue. I see people dressed in all kinds of violent and profane clothing, the store even SELLS IT! Honestly people, how family can a mall be with a Victoria's Secret store?And dude, the mall is the closest equivalent to the markets and bazaars of old. It is a place I can get stuff from all over the world in one place. So, then you say I have to be in the mall with a foot covering...alright dude, hows a pair of socks? My feet are covered...

anyway people comment on this please. 

and as always,

Barefooting is easy,
Barefooting is good for you,
Barefooting is NOT illegal,
Join the revolution,
GO BAREFOOT!

Lots of interviews

All today I got so many questions from a lot of cool people. Maybe people will finally stop looking down at me and have the guts to ask me. I also met a really cool vet today. That story is on my YouTube: www.YouTube.com/deutschperson333

Barefooting is easy,
Barefooting is good for you,
Barefooting is NOT illegal,
Join the revolution,
GO BAREFOOT!

Acceptance!

I mentioned being barefoot in one of my homework assignments and my marketing teacher put a smiley face next to my answer. So I think this might mean there could be some acceptance here. I also went to that dining place that kicked me out months ago. No problems. Again though, I suspect no one notices. I am leaving my little propaganda ads on some of the tables for the FACT the health code has no laws against being barefoot.

Barefooting is easy,
Barefooting is good for you,
Barefooting is NOT illegal,
Join the revolution,
GO BAREFOOT!

Success!

South Pacific was a great time, I had no trouble being barefoot at all. During intermission I sprinted through the rain to get a burger for Molly. After the play Molly and I stood under the overhang with all the others waiting for their cars. Dad took a while to come around because of the traffic and many people were staring at my feet.

Finally I hear some muffled talking behind me and a woman said "they say ask." Just then an elderly woman behind me asked me why I had no shoes on and I told her it was from back pain. They immediately held their hands up and exclaimed "No wonder we are all messed up we wear shoes." I get the sense she was making fun of me but at the same time they did hear me out which was nice. I told them there was a lot of science behind it and encouraged them to Google it for themselves.

With the exception of Molly, we had not even had dinner yet. We ended up going to Weybosett Cafe. We all got our meals, sat down and each discussed what about our meal displeased us. Me, the fact my chicken wrap was full of ligaments, dad, the chicken smelled weird, and Molly's lemonade was water, and after that ginger ale was clear carbonated water.

With our bellies full of mediocre food, we said our goodbyes. Its going to be a rough week without Molly I can already tell. I got back up to the room and resumed work on my english essay. I wandered over to the study lounge to use their wifi, after I tried to email my documents through my iPad, I decided to just stay in there and finish it on one of my laptops. As I left to grab my laptop a student called me Barefoot Bandit, I laughed and walked out the door.

About twenty minutes into typing my paper again I heard the muffled "They say ask." "Come on ask." followed by the loud and clear "Why don't you wear shoes?" I answered their question and they were all very intrigued. A friend of mine brought up the point of the health code. They were all surprised to know that the law is actually fictitious.

Finally I finished the paper, saved it, and went back to my room to print it and go to bed.

Today I went to my english class, turned in the paper, and went to get a burger. I am really starting to think they don't care I'm barefoot, one can only hope. I spent a few hours wandering around the RISD Brown University area. On my way back I had an elderly oriental couple ask me if I was cold. I said no and they said "Wow!" I told them it was for back pain and they seemed interested but I was in a bit of a hurry so I wished them a good day and got back to my dorm.

Here I sit, blogging when I should be doing my marketing homework...it's alright. I am about halfway done and there are only four questions total. So world I leave you for my homework. I will be back after my marketing class if I don't decide to throw up a few ads after.

Barefooting is easy,
Barefooting is good for you,
Barefooting is NOT illegal,
Join the revolution,
GO BAREFOOT!

South Pacific at PPAC

Heading back up to Providence this week and kicking it off with a barefoot trip to the theatre with Molly and my dad. This should be a lot of fun. hopefully I don't have any trouble getting in.

Bored

God, I didn't even leave the house today and wow do I feel the difference! I feel so incredibly blah its unbelievable. Jeeze I really should have went out for a run today. I am not going to make that mistake tomorrow. Lots of barefoot exercise for me.

Go Barefoot

Why go barefoot?

Well heres why.
Earth Times
Society for Barefoot Living
RunningBarefoot
LivingBarefoot

These are only a few sites with ample evidence of the health benefits. I encourage everyone to try it if not outside, around the house, if you cannot bring yourself to be barefoot all the time yet, take baby steps. No matter how you do it, you owe it to yourself to do it.

GO BAREFOOT

My reply to the mall

Dear Mr. -------

       First of all, let me thank you for your prompt and information rich reply. You mention that the mall has its policies to promote a safe, secure, family environment. With all due respect, how is making an accommodation for a frequent customer who has a medical condition impacting the safety, security, or family atmosphere of the mall? I am not harming others, I am not doing anything illegal, and I am not doing anything obscene that would affect the family atmosphere the mall so wonderfully maintains.

     You mention the first issue being barefoot presents, understandably the mall is concerned for reasons of liability, I have already said I am more than willing to release the mall from any sort of liability while I am shopping. If this were the only issue I see no reason that it could not be resolved by a simple mutually beneficial agreement.

    The second point you brought up was health reasons. You mention not wanting to have to police the foot hygiene of your customers, understandable that would be uncomfortable, for both parties. The thing is sir that do you police the bottoms of peoples shoes? They walk on the same streets as I do, track in the same things I do. The difference is that most people don't frequently clean the bottoms of their shoes. Most people don't watch where they walk when they wear shoes. As you can imagine, literally never wearing shoes, I always watch where I walk, I don't step on things that most of your customers would step on without so much as a second thought. The only one who would have to worry about the hygiene of the floor is me. I am the one stepping all over the carpets with the feet I clean every few hours right beside people who haven't washed their shoes since they have bought them.

   It does make prefect sense for everyone to have their feet wrapped up insulated from the world getting their shoes dirty instead. Believe me sir, if that were an option for me I would. It's not fun being stared at, made fun of, and constantly discriminated against because of a health requirement. In my life of eighteen years, sixteen of them were spent with nonstop crippling back pain. One summer I took my shoes off as I did every summer, and I just kept them off. The back pain I had suffered under for over a decade had disappeared. I tried everything to get rid of it, orthodics, massage, acupressure, acupuncture, this is the only thing that has worked for me. Any kind of shoe I try on, within about twenty minutes my back starts to get sore and only gets worse. It still will hurt a few hours after I take them off. 

   Sir, please try to understand that wearing shoes is simply not an option for me, I have demonstrated my complete willingness to release the mall of any liability. I love the mall. When I am not at college I am at the mall seeing all the world has to offer. I really love having the mall as a part of my life. If however I am still barred from the mall because I am some sort of eyesore or threat to the family environment, I will just have to shop somewhere else. I want to shop at the mall but if it means I have to do it in pain sir it really isn't worth it to me.

   The thing that really dissapoints me the most Mr. ------ is that I said I would do whatever it took to satisfy the liability concerns. The second part of the mall's concerns honestly just seem like good old all American discrimination. Would you not allow in a man who had shoes but never washed his long dyed hair and wore shirts with violent messages and severely disrupted that classic "family friendly" image? I see a lot of people in the mall who don't fit the bill of the image that comes to mind when I think family friendly. This e-mail isn't about them however, they have every right to be in the mall as I feel I do. 

   This is not about disrespecting the mall or its rules. This is about me presenting my concerns and expressing my desire to go back to the mall I enjoy so much. Every time I went to the mall I didn't wear shoes, I got a lot of very positive remarks from many store workers curious about my lack of shoes. The reason I visited the mall barefoot all the time without presenting this issue before is because I saw no posted signs stating a no shoes policy. I do not mean to say they aren't there, just that when I looked I saw no signs. There are no health codes against being barefoot so I went on with my shopping experience. 

   Most places at first tell me to leave but when I tell them why I don't have shoes they understand and I am allowed back. I really hoped the mall would be the same. Mr. ------ I sincerely apologize for this being so long. There were just a lot of points I had to address. I really feel that I have to reiterate that I mean NO disrespect towards you sir, or the mall. I am looking for a mutually agreeable solution as much as I hope you are.

Thank you for your time,

Sincerely,

Hayward H. Gatch IV

Reply from the mall!

Dear Mr. Gatch,
 

     I appreciate that you took the time to send us an email regarding your situation.  I fully understand you have a medical condition that may require you not to wear shoes. 

      With that being said I have to let you know that the Providence Place Mall is privately owned.  As a privately owned business we have the right to set certain policies that we believe help promote a safe, secure, family enviorment within the mall.  That allows all customers the opportunity to shop knowing that we are very concerned about their experience.  Many of our enacted policies are established to promote our Family atmosphere.  There have been a few occasions when a customer felt that they did not need to follow the mall policies for assorted reasons.   When a customer does not wish to follow the established rules of the mall then we politely ask them to please leave.   We will welcome that customer back when they comply with the established rules.  As much as we may not like or agree with "Certain rules" we must remember that they have been established for the greater good of all the customers.

     We believe that allowing patrons to visit the mall without shoes or any type of foot covering presents two issues.  The first issue is liability and the second issue is a health issue.  It is not the policy of the mall to accept individual waivers of liability from a customer.  We believe that by accepting an individual liability waiver letter it creates an even greater burden on our personnel.  It creates a scenario where others may want waivers for other reasons none on which would be in our customers interests.  Secondly I understand that you have a letter of liability waiver but we would not accept that because we have our own legal department that would be involved in drawing up such a document if we deemed it necessary.  As for health reasons we do not ever want the responsibility of having to police the proper foot hygiene of our customers.  It makes perfect sense that everyone should have their feet covered by shoes, sneakers, boots, sandals , flip flops etc. for the health of everyone who visits the mall.

    I hope this answers your questions and we hope that you would be able to comply with our shoe requirement policy and return to shop at the mall.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Name censored (by me)

Asst. Director of Security

Who saw my flyer

To whoever saw my little flyers and decided to pay the site a visit, thanks! So if you came to find out why I don't wear shoes, the reasons are simple. Its because its better for you, its how our feet were designed to work and interact with the ground. To those who believe in evolution, we didn't spend 2million years evolving with shoes on. Our bodies were designed and formed without shoes. To those who believe in creationism, I say god didn't give Adam and eve shoes. He made us in his image, without shoes.

Many people ask me how I get into restaurants. Well,most of the time I sneak in. Truth be told though there are no laws against being barefoot, its a misconception. So email me or follow my blog, Facebook providence barefooter, or follow my twitter provbarefooter.com. Las but not least, come on guys give barefooting a try.

Great day

Lots of wandering with absolutely no close minded people giving me a hard time. I wrote ask on my feet hoping people will ask me rather than just disapprovingly stare at me. I also wrote go on ask  on the back of my jacket with a big foot on the back. Tonight someone stopped me and actually mistook me for a homeless veteran asking me if I had a place to sleep tonight and asked me if I  was a veteran. After a pleasant conversation as to why I do it we said our goodbyes and I continued on my jog. Lots of fun come on people try it.

GO BAREFOOT!

Barefoot wanderings

I spent most of the night wandering providence with a few breaks in between to relax. I put barefoot flyers around town. Im especially excited about my ones pointing out theres no health code against barefooters. I  made a new flyer to put around school for people that ask me questions about my feet. I wanted to print it tonight but the library closed early...
Here it is

Tomorrow is a new day and I look forward to what the world has to offer me and my feet.

GO BAREFOOT!