This is my entry for this week’s Sunday Scribblings. The theme is "My Shoes."
My Shoes
By Jeffrey Yamaguchi
My shoes are never quite right. They’re either too small or too tight or too pointy. I often pay too much money for my shoes. I want them to be cool and a little different, but usually they’re just a pair of black leather shoes. I think about my shoes a lot, because I spend a great deal of time waiting for and then standing in a subway car, and during those long stretches of time, I notice that my feet hurt, and I know it’s because, damnit, my shoes aren’t quite right.
I do try. I remember this guy who I used to know from a long time ago who helped me get this one job — he used to give me little life pointers, and there was something about this guy, I don’t know, the things he said made sense and I often took them to heart, and I distinctly remember that he told me you can skimp on your pants, and your shirt, and your socks and underwear, but don’t skimp on shoes. "You’ve got to walk around and stand in them all day," he said, "And there’s nothing worse than walking and standing around in cheap shoes. You know it, and so does everybody else."
This guy, he was the boyfriend of a girl I am pretty sure I was in love with during college. She was an artist (of course). She lived in the bad part of town in a sketchy building with neighbors who had drug problems. She wore outfits that only made sense on her. She read the serious books. We used to watch art flicks, drink coffee and eat chips and salsa, and paint after midnight. One time we were out in this field taking pictures of each other (being "artists"). I was wearing these cool jeans and a raincoat that I had bought at an army surplus store, and my hair was long and I had it tied in a pony tail. Oh God I thought I was cool. I figured these pictures would end up in the biography someday. But after the pictures were developed all I could see was that I was wearing Top-Siders. And yes, they looked horrible. I looked horrible. My whole being cool thing was ruined. I was just a dork wearing Top-Siders. Perhaps that’s why nothing ever happened between me and this girl. Yes, I’ll blame it all on my shoes.
I haven’t given up. I’m still looking for that perfect pair of shoes. My shoes. They often feel right in the store, look right in the store, but I haven’t really walked in them, haven’t tried them on in different outfits or been out on the town, and perhaps most importantly, haven’t stood in a crowded train for 45-minutes while wearing the shoes. So I’m never really sure. I buy them and wear them and I am almost immediately disappointed. The hunt continues (in not quite right shoes on sore feet).
Your friend who talked about the importance of good shoes was right. The French frown at anyone not wearing nice shoes. And of course it’s the good wellmade shoes that last. Great post; love the college scene with the Topsiders! Very clever. And don’t despair: we’re all on a perpetual quest for well-fitting and comfortable shoes!
Wow, I never knew guys had the same problems girls do finding the perfect shoe. Who knew? ;)
My Dad was a huge Florsheim fan so I must admit I love to see a man wear beautiful shoes. Loved reading your post and good luck in your quest for the perfect shoe.
this will sound so shallow, but i stick to it…i never dated guys with bad shoes. or underwear. crappy underwear(excuse the pun) says that they are gross on the inside and think they are hiding it. mephisto shoes are really strange looking but are supposed to be incredibly comfy, also, born shoes are supposed to me amazing as well, while not so strange looking.
I connect with this post.
My dad was very poor as a child & had to wear shoes with holes. He made sure his kids had good shoes. As adults we all love shoes and have lots of them. I think I’ve found the perfect looking and comfortable shoes for me, ever. They look cool & feel good. I hope my feet never change so the shoes no longer feel good.