Like, REALLY love shoes. Flats, boots, ballerinas, loafers, strappy sandles, sneakers, "f*ck me" pumps. I love 'em all.
There's something about a pair of shoes that changes your whole mood. You're whole outlook. Let's face it, Cinderella's story would never have worked if she had a glass hat, or a glass handbag. She needed a pair of beautiful shoes in order for her transformation to be complete.
And I know I'm not alone in my obsession - mostly because of the evidence I've found behind the closet doors of many of my friends. Even if you don't care much about shoes, you have to respect them. There's a reason they say "you need to walk a mile in another man's shoes" in order to truly understand them. They are the foundation upon which we stand as we move through life. Shoes support us, present us to the world, and help propel us forward. And even after you take them off, your "sole" leaves an imprint behind.
A few weeks ago I decided to clean out my closet and it occured to me that I have a bunch of shoes I don't wear anymore, but can't throw away. I wondered why I needed to hang on to them. (Well, my boyfriend wondered why I needed to hang on to them...but it made me think). I realized I kept them because they represented a moment in my life. They told a story. In a way no other article of clothing could tell a story. They meant something to me. They represented something more.
I wondered if I was alone in this albeit seemingly materialist obsession and it turns out, I'm not. I asked friends and MommyLITE readers for their "shoe stories." And I got some great ones!
So every Wednesday, I will sharing someone's "Shoe Story." (Yeah. I know it sounds kind stupid and vapid, but if I can't do something stupid and vapid on my own blog, why do I bother? Just indulge me, okay?)
Shoe Stories -Episode #1
I bought these 2001 red Marc Jacobs ballerina flats in 2001. I haven't worn them in 10 years. But I can't throw them away because I the first time I wore them was to a dinner at Westwood Tavern (which doesn't exist anymore - thank God because we found a cricket in our salad...) with a group of new moms from my daughter's preschool class.
We drank, we laughed, and these new women I had never met before went on to become one of my closest circles of friends. In the years since we've met, we've shared heartache, loss, love and SO much laughter.
To me, these shoes represent the start of a beautiful friendship.
* Do you have a shoe story?? I want to hear it! Email me at sarahmaizes@yahoo.com!
