Funky Friday: When I Wore A Younger Man's Shoes

I went out last Friday to run errands and take a walk. It was just above freezing, so I wanted to walk indoors as much as possible.  I went to the art supply store, then walking through a dozen local shops, to get my daily hour of walking in, while spending as little time outside as possible.  

One of the shops was a massive shoe store, Designer Shoe Warehouse or DSW, my readers in the USA will likely recognize the brand. 

Strolling the aisles, I was reminded of my early 20's, I was working full time, and I had a steady if very modest income, and I discovered the joy of shopping for shoes. Not just one or two pairs of shoes, the necessities, but being able to buy shoes for style, sometimes shoes for special occasions. There was a discount shoe store on the south side of Colonial Drive just west of Semoran Boulevard in Orlando that had great prices and often unique styles.  At first it was boat shoes, this was the early 1980's and leather boat shoes were the peak of Yuppy Fashion. Then it was nice dress shoes. I have fond memories of a pair of crocodile slip ons that I bought at an outlet mall out near Wet and Wild for about $100. I loved Cole Haan Driving Mocs, at one time I had at least 6 pairs of them in different colors and finishes. 

And starting in my late 20's running shoes. For a long time almost always Nike's top of the line running shoes. Avia gym shoes. Later Asics running shoes - I have probably half a dozen pairs of them in the closet today. 

Then in my 40's my feet started hurting.  I picked up some weight, I had spent a decade running a lot. I had a couple of jobs where I spent a lot of time on my feet. My days of stylish shoes were over by my early 50's. Shoes need to be comfortable, provide plenty of support and cushioning. 

Today I wear mostly running shoes. I have a couple of pairs that are all black, that I wear with suits. Have a couple of pairs of nearly waterproof hiking shoes or boots. And a few pairs of fancy dress shoes that I only wear when needed, and then limit the amount of time I am on my feet. But mostly it is one of the many pairs of running shoes in the closet that I wear each day. 

In DSW last week, there was this pair of sparkly black velvet formal shoes, I looked at them, picken them up, coveted them, and remembered the days, when I wore a younger man's shoes, and I could / would have bought the lovelies. Maybe I miss those days.