11.12.2007

Good Bye Old Friend

Byron and I were cleaning out our closets yesterday, moving our fall/winter things to the forefront (about time) and our spring/summer things to the back (I thought this day would never come). I took the opportunity to be "real" with myself and get rid of things I hadn't worn in a few years. I was putting some things aside when Byron noticed these shoes and said I had to take and picture and blog about them. You see, these shoes have a story. They've been the best shoe friend I've had in a long time. When I came home from my mission in December of 2002, all the clothes I had worked so hard to acquire during the previous years had vanished. This didn't matter to me though since I thought the clothes I had worn home on the plane where really the only things a girl could need. I mean they're just things to cover your body right? (I was living on a higher plane at the time). The story of my first trip to the mall after coming home is a blog in itself so I'll just leave it with saying that it took me less than 30 seconds upon entering the mall to realize the reality of my situation. My parents had realized my plight long before I did and were so wonderful to give me money to start over and get some clothes before heading out to BYU. Among the things I bought were 3 pairs of shoes. Brown boots, and two pairs of black shoes including the ones pictured above. These shoes were my staples. I loved them. I wore the pictured shoes every Sunday. Many days to school. Over the next few years, I wore them every day to work. They expanded with my feet during my pregnancy. I even continued to wear them after the elastic had broken on the sides. I couldn't find another pair their equal! A big event for me was even close to being ruined because these shoes were not ready from the Shoe Repair Shop when they said they would be and I really had nothing else to put on my feet. I had to borrow my sister's shoes which are 2 sizes bigger than mine and stuff tissue at the toe and slide around most of the night. Is it sad and pathetic? Yes? Is it true? Yes again. One day after going through 9 months of pregnancy and 4 months of reclaiming my sanity after having a baby, I looked around and realized I was quickly becoming outdated. No wait, I wasn't becoming, I was outdated. These shoes that had been my friend and ally were no longer "cool". I just couldn't bare to part with them though. I mean, if I threw them away, what would that say about me? What kind of cold hearted person so quickly discards something that has given them so much? Well, apparently me. After not wearing them for 2 years, I've made the call. They smell, they're broken, threads are sticking out on them, and it's time to say good bye. I just want you to know friend, you're the best. Thanks for sticking with me through it all. It'll be a long time before I can call another shoe "friend".

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm with ya! When you find a good pair that seem to go with everything and you feel cute in, it's hard to let them go. I had a pair that I BROUGHT HOME FROM MY MISSION. After wearing them constantly for 18 months, I wore them for another year or two. I had them re-soled, both buckles fixed, etc. etc. It was a sad day to let those ones go.

Tiffany Kadani said...

Ha ha! I so remember these shoes! I never realized how much you wore them, but looking back they are the shoes that were always on your feet (besides your cool sneakers). Don't worry about being outdated- your socks will always be the coolest.

ps... Hawaii was great!

Ashley said...

So is that kind of shoe outdated now? I didn't know. I still wear shoes like that. I'm needing to replace my black ones and I was going to get another similar pair...my eighth since entering college (I guess I can't hang out to smelly shoes as long you). For what event did you have to wear my shoes? I don't remember this at all?!?! GREAT blog though!

melissa said...

Jeff felt the same way about his Tivas when he came home from his mission. He wore them every day even though people told him it wasn't cool. Then one day he turned on them and tossed them in the trash. It was a pretty good day for me.