New Shoes

Anticipation has been building for weeks around here. A new shoe store has had it's shingle out along with big banners in the window promising to "Open Soon" for several weeks. Yesterday's paper included a coupon and partial list of special prices along with a "Now Open" banner on the page. At breakfast yesterday I managed to one up the sis-in-law with news she didn't have yet. Uptown Shoe Store is open for business. Her surprise was only trumped by my delight in giving her news as yet unknown to her. We have a bit of that friendly competition in our family here on the mountain. It's always best to know the latest first. Brother and Ol' Abner were both unimpressed with the news, but what do they know with that limited male perspective.

Today, Sis-in-Law called to see if I wanted to ride over to the big town for a little shoe shopping. Actually, it was more a matter of "how soon 'til you can be ready??. We left old Abner adding to the back deck and Brother camped in front of the TV. Now as a girl true to Dogpatch, my Daisy Mae size feet aren't so easy to fit. I always need the largest size in the ladies department and sometimes larger than anything in the ladies department. It is often a source of great irritation when shopping for athletic shoes and the sales person suggests I buy a MAN's shoe. Beyond me why anyone would think my feet would even want to walk like a man. I may be tall, but I'm just not equipped like the male species and my feet don't walk the same. If you can't understand that...there's no point trying to explain. Uptown shoe store is known for it's wide selection of hard to find sizes and my mission was successful. Almost every shoe I liked was available in my size. Oh decisions, decisions...! I cleaned out my closet and bagged eleven pair of barely worn shoes last week. Old Abner saw no reason to replace them, thus exhibiting his manly lack of knowledge regarding shoes. I returned home with fantastic tales of sandals, slides, loafers, peep toe pumps, casual flats, strappy wedges and dancing shoes. There were flip-flops, vans, jumping shoes, running shoes and walking shoes of every color and style...oh let my feet sing!! He was unimpressed with my details and rather relieved that only two pair made their way home with me. I will have to make another trip soon, the manager told me additional stock arriving next week will double the selection currently on display. Better clean out some more old shoes.