Daily writing prompt

Tell us about your favorite pair of shoes, and where they’ve taken you.

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If you did not read that in the tone of Tom Hanks as Forest Gump, I’m very bummed.

It is probably one of my all-time favorite movies.

So, what were my magic shoes?

When I was in 1st or 2nd grade, my dad went to the local specialty shop for a pair of boots. He has size 13 EEE feet (this is US-based sizing for men) so his shoes were special order.

I went with my dad on this specific trip to The Boot Barn out by Montgomery, Michigan (I am 90% sure they are now out of business).

On this particular day, I looked at shoes in my size while he shopped for something he would like. I found the cutest pair of ROOS, yes KangaROOS, and I begged my father to buy them for me. They were bright with girly colors, and of course, they had a little pocket on them.

Check this sold listing from Etsy if you want to see what they looked like (from my memory anyway) and get an idea of what I am referring to HERE.

I was so excited to have them despite the fact they were Velcro rather than laced to close.

I wore these ROOS to school, never more proud of my footwear in my life.

Guess what? This would have been around 1992 and ROOS were not popular in my area. They were a trend in the 80s as an athletic shoe. First and second grade kids don’t understand the value of a good shoe or brand.

My classmates saw that they were not lace up shoes and I was picked on all day long.

These expensive shoes that I loved so much… went into the closet when I got home and I stopped wearing them. My parents were frustrated about it and eventually, when I outgrew them, they were gifted off to another child who needed shoes.

I owned some of the coolest shoes, the original with a pocket on the shoe, and I let the opinion of others make my decisions.

Do you know what those shoes taught me? It isn’t the journey they walked with me but the lesson later in life that the opinions of others do not matter if you are truly happy with yourself.

That is why I embrace my oddities and accept the choice to go a different route from most trends.

Thank you dad and thank you ROOS.