Same as it ever was
Sunday January 27th 2013, 12:05 am
Filed under: Life

(With a nod to RobinFre of Yorktown on that title; scroll down to see her square.)

Thursday, I went with my friend Nina to the Campbell knitting group I rarely get to, I think only once all last year; faces lit up as we came in, the last to arrive. Carol ran in the back and grabbed two more chairs for us and set them up where there was a bit of space to squeeze us in.

Next to someone who, awhile into things, started sniffling and coughing.

Already exposed. There was no escape.

I so cannot catch that right now.

And… I was wiped today. A rare nap helped, and then I finally got myself out the door in the late afternoon to the place Michelle had thought my best and closest bet in my shoes search, a Nordstrom Rack.

I went down the 6.5 aisles. It was laughable, as I expected. I decided to try the 7s, and there in the sea of towering heels and bright sparkly straps was a sensible pair of Clark’s in wide–not quite too dowdy, not quite too casual. And black. The heel was about 2″, twice what I want, but I could actually get my foot into them, unlike anything else I’d seen. And they were comfortable!

A few hours later, there was this odd feeling like my feet seemed a little big in them–well yes but–so I pulled one off, wondering–turns out I had bought 7.5s that had been misplaced. A full size too long.

Which is what I had always had to buy in the days before I started wearing Birkenstocks. The shoe universe had kicked me back to my teens and twenties.

And I can wear my thick black wool socks in them in the snow and they are not open-backed clogs like my others. They will do.

At that store, going towards the checkout, my other problem was suddenly solved. I hadn’t thought I was going to be able to do anything about it at all, but there they were: wide-brimmed black hats, in a very soft wool (you sure this isn’t cashmere, I wondered, checking), half price, to make being outside when I have to be graveside just a little bit safer.

There were two. I liked the one with the sassy suede tassel dangling off the side but that nagging inner voice seemed to insist in spite of me that the other made more sense.

There was a petite Asian woman trying on hats in front of the same mirror, and we kept carefully stepping out of each other’s way, deciding, going back to the earlier one, being careful not to hog reflection time.

“I like that one on you,” she said, pointing at the other.

Standing there in my old Birkenstock sandals, I explained that that tassel appealed to the hippy in me.  But I did have to admit I was going to a funeral.

Ah. “That one’s more formal,” she affirmed.

I thanked her and put the betassled back and bought the formal one, marveling that she’d opened up and spoken to me and had said what I’d needed to hear. She was right.

And then I hightailed it to Purlescence for their last 15 minutes and got to see DebbieR after her class was over and to meet her husband before they made their long drive home. It was wonderful to see them! Till we meet again at Stitches. I’ll probably be wearing Birkenstocks, with, of course, handknit socks. Ya gotta keep that hippy thing going, y’know?


10 Comments so far
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Nothing hippy about keeping toes happy! I don’t like Crocs just for their colors. 🙂

Comment by Kelli King 01.27.13 @ 2:12 am

Shoes and a hat. Congrats!

Comment by RobinM 01.27.13 @ 4:02 am

the hat sounds grand (you can always add a little something to it after the funeral and wear it again)

hippie indeed!

Comment by bev 01.27.13 @ 8:16 am

It’s hard to leave our comfort-shoe zone. I live in my clogs (brown and black) because they are so comfy, make me 1.5″ taller (5’9.5″), allow me to wear my handknitted socks and my thin black ones and don’t aggravate the bunion on my right foot (anything to avoid surgery!)

Be comfortable during this difficult time. The last thing you should worry about is your feet and how the shoes are fitting. Trust me, no one is looking at your feet. But if it makes you feel better, slip on a pair of some handknitted socks.

My condolences to you and your family.

Comment by Robin 01.27.13 @ 10:32 am

If you wear beautiful hand knit socks inside your boots, it will be like the lasting core of the joy of knowing the person who passed, clothed in the somber ritual of comfort.

Comment by Diana Troldahl 01.27.13 @ 11:43 am

I’ve never thought of you as anything ‘hippie’, but then what do I know? If it’s comfortable, wear it.

Comment by Don Meyer 01.27.13 @ 12:12 pm

I love Clarks but can’t recall… yes, I think I did tell you my blue ankle boots by them (bought in late ’12) are 7.5s because the reviews said they run small and narrow. I’ve also found I can wear more heel in Clarks than other brands.

Glad you had a hat shopping helper! I like random, “stranger” opinions far better than that of a sales person.

Comment by Channon 01.27.13 @ 12:44 pm

Yes! It was so very nice to get to visit with you a bit. And I’m sending super healthy thoughts that you do not catch anything except some restful zzzz’s, and time for fun knitting. Peace, my friend.

Comment by DebbieR 01.27.13 @ 8:46 pm

Amazing, isn’t it, how Heaven puts the right person in the right place, right when we need it? Praying that your mother-in-love’s service is as wonderful and healing as Beloved’s was.

Comment by Lynn 01.28.13 @ 5:10 am

I’m glad she was there to tell you about the hats. The one shoe brand I can rely on to fit, without “breaking in”, is Naturalizer. And I think Birkenstocks and Handknit socks are high style–I even got a compliment on mine at Barnes and Noble last week, from a man!

Comment by Sherry in Idaho 01.28.13 @ 9:02 am



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