I used to think of it as a childish pleasure but I realized the other day it's just the opposite. It's simply that I am getting old enough to not care what anyone says about my style or lack of it.

Wearing crazy socks makes me feel good. Most of the time other people can't really see them and generally not too many will say anything about them, at least in front of me.

Because I have genetic bone disorder in my foot (thanks mom) I can't wear a lot of shoe styles. It's just too painful. But, I have discovered I can make up a little for this loss by buying and wearing interesting socks.

I have lots of serious socks. You know the type, dark blue or black trouser socks. Boring serious socks worn during most of my working life. But worn with cute shoes, the kind I can't wear anymore.

If my feet are warm, I'm usually happy. If they are cold they get stiff and achy and I get ugly. So socks are an important clothing item for both my family and me.

My fascination with cutesy socks goes back, I'm sure to grade school. I went to a parochial school and had to wear a uniform--white shirt, plaid skirt and knee high socks. Surprisingly, there were no rules about the knee socks so I could flash some of my personality by wearing stripes or designs on my knee socks.

In high school I had a pair of olive green hose that matched a plaid mini skirt with matching sweater. That was a great outfit. In the late 60's and early 70's colored hose were hot and I was happy.

Later when I had to be more serious as a marketing manager (back when marketing wasn't sales, it was marketing) I gave up most of my flashy socks and hosiery items for somber nudes and tans.

For several years now, I have been moving back toward my old habit of wearing crazy socks. It really started growing out of control with my then college-aged daughter's fetish for toe socks. Wildly colored, striped and bizarre socks, it was all she would wear.

We teased her about not wearing anything but toe socks, that she began buying me the craziest socks she could find.

Whenever we went to Brown County or Gatlinburg we always visited the sock store. That's when my yen for colored yarn grew out of control. They had bear and moose, cardinals and flamingos and all types of colors and styles.

My granddaughter Riley has started down the same road. We began buying her fun socks even before she was born. She now insists on wearing brightly colored socks and we have to buy baby Emma matching ones as well.

I have socks for every holiday, my favorite critters, all kinds of colors and types--except toe socks. A girl has to draw the line somewhere.

So, if you see me on the street, in a meeting, taking a photo and want to comment on my socks or even laugh at them, go ahead. If it makes you laugh that is a good thing. And, you already know if I'm wearing crazy socks, I'm happy.