Soles for the Soul

As a kid, I always looked forward to the start of the school year, and it wasn't because of the impending homework, school lunches and book reports. No, the beginning of school meant that I got new shoes. For the first few weeks I would wear them proudly, being careful to sustain their pristine appearance. I would make sure all my friends saw how fantastic my new shoes were, being careful to step around mud puddles, gum and anything that resembled dog doo to ensure the longevity of their jealousy. I loved them for how cool I thought they looked and how cool I thought they made me look.

In the following months, my shoes grew to become an extension of my body. The clean and perfect shoes would fade to a worn, brownish color as my sneakers were finally used for the purposes which they were intended: for playing football on the playground, for running away from the love crazy girls and as useful projectiles to defend myself against my tyrannic older sister. I loved them for for what they did for me. They made me fast, they made me cool and they often protected my body from becoming badly bruised.

As an adult, I miss having a month on the calendar created for new shoes. A disappointment that is easily lifted when I remember that I can buy new shoes whenever I need to. Such was the case this past weekend. Informed by my sister that my old black shoes were ugly and unflattering, I went on a quest to find new black shoes that could make me once again feel cool. In less than 5 minutes of looking, I found the most awesome pair of shoes I have ever owned (with the possible exception of my Cowboy boots).

Once again, I am wearing my new shoes with pride, graciously accepting the compliments of my contemporaries. As I skirt around puddles, gum and doo, I thoroughly enjoy the crowds of love crazy girls drawn to the cool new me thanks to my new Tsubo shoes.