Midlife Crisis: Not a Car, Not a Boat, Not a Redirection in My Life - A Walk With Glam

I've been waking up early, to be sure I get my run in, but also to finish wrapping up summer projects so I have this weekend to begin planning for the Fall semester. Glamis the Wonder dog, however, has been hyper-aggressive to remind me that I've chosen not to take her for a 4 mile walk in this heat. At 8 a.m., it isn't that bad, so feeling guilty I have leashed her up, grabbed the doggie doodie bags, and made her happy; in fact, yesterday she got to go on two walks...in the heat...with prayers for the cold front to come through already (only to disappear early next week).

And I bought myself a gift....a blast from the past that accentuate the fact that I have two different-sized feet. I found a pair of knock-off Birks like I used to wear in college.

Looking down, I suddenly have flashbacks of wearing overalls, S. American knit heavy sweaters, wool socks, and my sandals, as I paraded across Binghamton university with my long hair in a pony tail...a look that I carried even further at the University of Louisville.

Boy, did I love my sandals in college, but after several repairs in three different states, I eventually had to chuck them. There was no recorking possible and the tread on the bottom could not be replaced because the sandals were 20 years old.

But I got another pair and I feel like Chitunga. He has no idea how envious I've been seeing him parade around the house this summer in HIS sandals that I didn't have. Seeing his toes in a pair of Birks simply triggered memories and mid-life envy. I wanted those shoes for myself.

Silly to think that my grasp to younger days have to do with footwear, but I'm sure any Birk-wearing, 60s-throwback Generation X freak like me understands 100% what nostalgia these shoes bring: Blues Traveler, Chili Peppers, Edie Brickel and the New Bohemians, They Might Be Giants, The Sundays, The Judy Bats, Spin Doctors, Tracy Chapman...

Phew...my feet were a signal for the time.

And yes, "What are those?" - you can make fun of the fact that my left foot is almost a size larger than the right. I live with it. Now you can, too.