It's A Shoer Thing

"Shoe" was my granddaughter's first word. Most kids do  "mama" or "dada",  but not my now adult sweetie. She isn't the family shoe collector, however. That is my calling. I didn't realize how far the shoe addiction that I possessed had gone, until I began the moving process of selling my place. After a few days of deep denial, I got into the cupboard where I store my bevy of boots and so on. It wasn't the Paris Hilton kind of  shoe array, but in numbers, it was embarrassingly close. Most of the pumps and flats and boots were keepers, but way in the back where they had been hiding, were some mistake shoe purchases and other misdemeanors that were somewhat dusty although otherwise new looking. They had been the sort of purchases made in emotional states. You shoe people know what I mean. You are somewhere foreign, and you pass a shoe shop with delicious foot wear and before you know it, you are inside seated on an elegant chair and ordering from the charming clerk who hovers, your preferences. Box after tissued box arrives, and you, like Cinderella and her prince, are immersed in try ons and little walking rehearsals in front of the tiny slanted mirror that reflects your toes in some of the loveliest leathers and colours and shapes. Not that you can afford even to ask the phenomenal prices you know this store is famous for! But at last you put on the ultimate shoe, and your feet seem to look up at you in that pleading way that you cannot resist. You submit to your overwhelming indulgence and walk proudly out of the store with your new treasure in its logo box, tucked in your arms. When you get it home, you give it star placement on the shelf. There it is in deep blue suede as soft as a kitten. The heel, all golden is rimmed in pearls that the store clerk assured you are of the genuine fresh water variety. The heel is just the right height that is sexy, but also practical for actually walking or even dancing. Most of the gals you know, like you, wear shoes close to the nature of sneakers to events, but surreptitiously, change into the fabulous ones hidden in the bottom of their bag bag. Yes, two of them: one huge one called a tote and inside is its little babykin purse and a lot of other necessities such as scarves, phones and yes, the perfect heels that go with the occasion dress or pants. The shoes, naturally, are cosy in their mesh shoe bag that all very good shoes require for protection. When you pay a goodly part of your budget on an item, you need to look after the investment. But alas, the pearly shoes of which I speak, were worn only once to a New Year's party where they did get accolades and glances.  But just to look at them now and again, even though they seldom, if ever afterward, are worn, is pleasure. What of crystal and baseball and Dresden and hockey puck and jewelry collectors who do the same thing?  But back to the reality of the moving game. There are boxes for give-aways, donations and garbage. These adorable blue suede pearl encrusted shoes are gently and reverently placed back onto my shelf with a smile and a sigh that only shoe lovers can understand.