First, I would like to report that this old gal still has it!I did not have very much confidence in myself as I started the two and a half hour hike around Buntzen Lake today but I did it~~~That on the coat tails of a two hour rigorous bike ride yesterday afternoon.
I can't say I did it in style though. Two hours and fifteen minutes into the hike (who's counting???), Shelly says, "Linda, what's the matter with your shoes?" I was so busy keeping focused on the trail ahead that I had no idea that I had blown out my shoes.
MY SHOES!
I have worn these shoes for the past twelve years. I bought them for my first trip to Vietnam.
They have been my constant play shoes.
I have obviously used them to death.
These are also the famous shoes that sent my 90+ year old friend Clara into a tizzy one day.
I wore them to church with a dress one summer.
I was teaching the young children and I had a play time in the park scheduled for later. Hey, at least I wore a dress to church. Well, Clara came unglued. Just about like the heel of my shoe did today.
"What do you think you are doing wearing shoes like that?!? Why, you are the pastor's wife!!!!!
We dressed better than that on the farm. Your husband buys you beautiful clothes. Why would you do this?!?", etc. etc. etc. It was quite the tirade.
Yikes!
I had no where to hide.
So later that day I called her rather sheepishly and asked if she was still mad at me.
By this time she had settled down.
She was so upset thinking I would be mad at her!
Basically, she confessed that she didn't know what had came over her.
It was like she was channeling the spirit of her own mother.
Apparently that is how her mother used to talk to her.
She was horrified.
Poor dear.
We promptly encouraged each other and carried on as usual.
Boy, do I miss my Clara.
That little episode has become a memory tucked away inside of me.
Did I ever wear those shoes to church again?
Not on your life.
To this day I double check what I am wearing.
That is not to say that I make all of the people happy all of the time.
I am who I am and I know there are times that I still get looks.
But to quote Clara, "All is rosy in the garden."
I just won't have my shoes to tromp around in the garden anymore!
As they say, "Walk a mile in my shoes" who ever said that must have had a pair like yours, worn out and falling apart at the seams. Twelve years either means you bought an exceptional pair of shoes are you only used them on special occasions, which was it. The only shoes I ever had last over ten years was an old pair of Birkenstocks, those shoes were made for walking.
ReplyDeleteLinda is a good walker but does not like hills (who does). Linda reminds me that her "Jesus" is a valley walker. She would prefer a valley walk any day.
To answer your question, dear Bob...
ReplyDeleteI bought a fantastic pair of shoes. It was one of the rare instances in life that I actually got my money's worth. Thanks for paying! Like the little village girls in Vietnam have always said, "You buy. He pay." Speaking of that, what am I going to wear on my next hike??????