My New Shoes
Umpteen years ago, “… well, it’s so comfortable that someone ran a marathon in it…” That’s what a friend told me.
Fast forward… 2009, a couple months back. I was with Dan and we saw this special for Rockport shoes. Ever since I heard about the comfort of Rockport shoes, I’ve always wanted to try it. So this time around, there was hardly any resistance when I was steered into the store. Of course having a special sale made it somewhat easier to me to be brought for the slaughter.
The price was enticing and so I walked out with a pair of Rockports after being convinced by Dan that we were helping the economy.
Like all shoes, testing at the store does not quite equate with wearing it for hours. It was truly comfortable but it did not feel right. The aspect ratio of my feet just did not quite match the shoe. I finally found the answer by getting inserts which magically made it work right. And yeah… it’s Rockports from now onwards.
Whilst this is my first pair of shoes that I am happiest with, the buying did not evoke any noteworthy memories. I’ll probably forget the buying experience in due time.
Buying my first pair however is buried deep in my cranium. Dad brought me to buy my first pair. Previous ones were probably hand-me-downs or purchased and given to me. In the old days, shopping was quite a grand affair. There was no shopping centers like now but there were magnificent stores like Robinsons, John Little’s, and yes there was Bata. Of course, there were the small little stores but Dad took me to Bata.
Bata was located at the very same spot it is now, but it was more regal then. One had to walk up a flight of steps, much like walking up the flight of steps to the old Supreme Court. I remember Robinsons was much like that as well. I think in the old days, walking up a flight of steps was something important and architects must have planned the building designs that way.
The floor was highly polished and it was slippery smooth. Those days, good shoes were made of leather and Dad bought me a nice brown leather shoe. It had buckles by the sides and the top resembled a “T”. The sole of the shoe was leather unlike the shoes these days. Nowadays, as in the Rockport, the soles are rubber. Leather soles need a bit of roughing before one can walk properly without sliding. So there I was, gingerly sliding away in my new shoes, like one would roller skate with my new shoes. I was concentrating and trying to avoid falling when I slid right into a genteel English lady who looked down at me and said… “New shoes ?”
Gee, was I embarrassed. For the longest time ever, right up to my teens, Dad would bring this up and say “New shoes…” and we would all have a good laugh at my expense.
Oct. 2011The amount of traveling that I and Rockport have been through the last one year makes me want to find the "perfect" shoe. Derek showed me his Churchills and I am impressed. Time for me to find out what is better then the Rockports. I'll keep you guys posted...
