What was I thinking? (Pt 1- The Shoe Edition)

Dear Imaginary Reader, as Henry David Thoreau once said: I have three pairs of pants: One for myself, two for company and three for society. But Hi-Def Thoreau didn't have to  rummage through his closet looking for the grey argyle sweater you know will keep you warm on the -4 degree morning.  And after being buried under an avalanche of non-grey argyle sweaters, you have an epiphany of sorts: some of this stuff has got to go. Maybe-*gasp*  some of the shoes.

It is in this mindset that I have started to clean my closet. And I don't mean that usual stuff-it-in-a-bin-till-summer kind of cleaning. No, this time I'm serious. Because once a woman has reached a certain age, there really is no point hanging on to those things that don't fit you any more, or that you haven't worn in a year or two. Or three. Because life is too short to be pushing that crap our of the way in order to get to what you want. 

Metaphorical, no?And though I am not in a hurry to part with some of my beloved size 5s, it simply is time to take stock. Stop the rhetoric and be realistic. Besides, I can't fit any more shoes in there, so something's gotta give. 

So, here, for your consideration, are some of the candidates for the discard pile. I'll let you be the judge what I was thinking when I got these.

ITEM #1: The brown suede platform clogs. 

OK, I know what I was thinking here: "It's the 70's!" Plus, there was the 4" height boost that brings me up to eye level with "average" size people. But I haven't worn these since I found a store that sells petite size pants. They are comfy, though, and walkable. Alas, all my bell-bottoms are gone.

VERDICT: Undecided. 


ITEM #2: Doc Martens with a broken strap.

Yeah, these are going. I wore them when I taught at Grateful Dead Community College, with wool socks, all winter. The open-toe thing allows you to get your feet wet and cold at the same time! Talk about Swiss innovation & efficiency.

VERDICT: Out they go.

ITEM #3: The buttery-soft, super cute boots that I cannot walk in.

I wore these to school one time, and by the time I was walking out to my car, I was on my hands & knees. They are by far the softest, butteriest leather I have ever owned. And that cute little lace-up in the back is nice. And until I get a bunch of men to carry me on a divan, how the hell am I supposed to walk in these?
But: you always hurt the one you love, right?

VERDICT: Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.

ITEM #4: The War and Peace flip flops

From the top, they look like normal flip-flops.








But stand them next to War & Peace....

And you're suddenly in a kabuki presentation.




I'll probably keep these, just because I can wear them with little or no repurcussions to my feet. And it does add about 5" to my height.



VERDICT: Where's my rice powder? Keeping them.

ITEM #5: The Angels wanna wear my red boots. 

Guess who picked these out? I"ll give you a hint: he's six feet tall and his intials are C.S.O. There is something about a height differential in a relationship that cries out: Make her wear heels! While these are fairly comfy, what with the 2" platform, where am I going to wear red suede boots? I asked this of my sister in law, and she said "Out. You would wear them out."

VERDICT: Undecidely not waterproof, but not uncomfrotable either. So, for around the house to vacuum in?

ITEM #6: The War & Peace Pumps. 

Again, guess - just guess- who picked these out.









I can wear these; that is to say I am able to stagger around the house with them on. But seriously, where in God's name did he see me wearing these? On second thought, never mind. I never should have told him about that trapeze we had on our swingset. I think he's a bit confused.

VERDICT: I have no idea.

So there you have it, dear Imaginary Reader. Six pair of shoes on the endangered list. Next time, we'll go through the dresses that are currently folded in the cedar chest, awaiting a decision. Just a thought: black knits and yellow labradors don't really accessorize too well.

Until then, remember: I went into the woods so that I could live simply. But there were no closets in the woods, so I had to get rid of some stuff.

Here's a poem for you, for this cold, wintry day. It's a good day for cocoa, and wool socks, and reading at the laundromat while the dryers go round & round. Later on, a roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and some squash.

81

I think it will be winter when he comes. 
From the unbearable whiteness of the road 
a dot will emerge, so black that eyes will blur, 
and it will be approaching for a long, long time, 
making his absence commensurate with his coming, 
and for a long, long time it will remain a dot. 
A speck of dust? A burning in the eye? And snow, 
there will be nothing else but snow, 
and for a long, long while there will be nothing, 
and he will pull away the snowy curtain, 
he will acquire size and three dimensions, 
he will keep coming closer, closer ... 
This is the limit, he cannot get closer. But he keeps approaching, 
now too vast to measure ...

Vera Pavlova / translated from the Russian by Steven Seymour
If There Is Something to Desire
Alfred A. Knopf