"I like your shoes." I was hoping the cute nurse WAS looking at my shoes and not my toenails. Both big toes are still gross, still cut back to about 1/3 or less, and showing no signs of growth, despite daily medicine. I told her what I've told a bunch of people recently who have said they like these particular sandals, that they are probably 12-15 years old, and from Walmart. And that it's amazing they're still intact. And how they do go with everything. Shoes. This was my visit with a plastic surgeon. Once I was alone in the exam room I wondered if there is a class for medical professionals in which they recommend a compliment to put the patient at ease. I was thinking back to how many times this had happened to me over the course of the better part of a year -- so many nurses, so many compliments on my outfits, my eye color, my hat, my wig, my whatever. And you know what? It did put me at ease most of the time, at least for a moment. It's a nice ...