Shoe Story

My dream boots...

Somehow or another, (we won't go into how) I let myself get talked into going rock climbing.

Now folks who know me understand that I am sedentary by inclination and pursue that particular part of my nature with vigor.

But rock climbing I was to go. Sheesh.

Another little quirky bit of my nature has to do with shoes. I do love shoes. I have far more shoes than I will ever wear out in three lifetimes, but is that going to stop me from acquiring more? No, I don't think so!

You can understand, therefore, what my first thought had to be after finally allowing the rock climbing expedition to be planned- full speed ahead and all that. Shoes! I needed shoes! Have to have the proper shoes if I am going to undertake this project. Shopping was the next order of the day.

I hurried myself down to one of my favorite shoe stores (I have three favorites) and perused the selection at hand. Oh glory! Was I ever in luck! There they were, out on display, the most beautiful pair of boots I ever beheld.

They were obviously "display" merchandise, for they had the look of having already climbed the White Cliffs of Dover or some other equally lethal place. They were scratched and scuffed... perfect! says I. And they fit like a handmade glove fits the hand. I was ecstatic!

The floor salesman (some newly hired person I was not acquainted with him, nor he with me) tried to talk me into taking a similar pair, same style and all, that he had neatly boxed in the back room, but I was adamant. I wanted "this" pair.

"But, lady, this pair is all scuffed!"

"That's what makes them so perfect," I countered. "I will look like a pro!"

I think it was the extra $50 that I offered that finally persuaded him. What a steal! Only $275; I was hooked. Smitten. In love.

Let me tell you about these wonderful boots. So gorgeous they are! They are what are commonly called "cowboy" boots. A beautiful shiny black with red stitching. The added scuffs and scratches only enhance the design on the tall (halfway to my knee) tops.

The heels are a good two and a half inches high which I dearly love since I can always use the added height. Well, I was ready! And looked quite spiffy, if I do say so myself.

When I arrived at the appointed "take off" site, my boyfriend took one look at my wonderful footwear and started to make comments. Well! I gave him one of my "looks" and told him to shut up about it, I was here, I would climb the damn rocks but I would do it in style so I didn't want to hear another word about it. (My boyfriend has never been very supportive about my, um... shall we say, passion... for beautiful shoes.)

"Let the climb begin!" I said. And let's get the damn thing over with too, although I didn't say that part out-loud.

So we climbed. And climbed. Hey, where is the top of this thing? We climbed some more.

Ya know... no one ever told me that leather soled cowboy boots are not quite the thing for climbing rocks. Did you know that you can slip and fall, breaking your neck, when you hit a slick spot? Well, I am here to tell you that it is very possible. Yea, even predetermined, some might say. Oops!

"Carla!!!!!!!"

I could hear him yell my whole way down the face of that cliff...

It isn't quite the tragedy that one might think, really. For one thing, in heaven... yes I made it, don't look so surprised... you can have unlimited numbers of shoes, a new pair every five minutes if one should so choose. And believe me, I so choose. It "is" heaven, after all!

Only one sad thing about this whole story remains to be told. I woke up and, bless my soul, it was only a dream!

My beautiful boots were only a dream! "OH NO! I looked under the bed. I looked in the closet. I even looked on my specially designed shoe rack... No. Where. No beautiful boots.

Ah well, such is the stuff of dreams, I am told.

I think I will go shopping now. Shoes. Maybe, boots?