The Natural Place to Look While Trying to Avoid Eye Contact

Its time for another blog about shoes, but I'm not gonna get preachy about the evils of flip flips, I have something else to declare about footwear. I feel like I am finally a grown up woman because I've mastered the art of walking in high heals. In fact, last night, Ryan told me that I had the "most fabulous walk ever" and at the time I was wearing stilettos and concentrating on every step. I remember watching my mom wear high heels when I was younger and thinking how amazing it was that she could wear high shoes even when she was schlepping around. I thought I could never achieve such grace. Turns out, I have taken it a step further and not only can I glide with highs on, but I can hike great city distances with stilettos, weapons of minor destruction strapped to my feet. Never did I think I was capable of such a thing, but this urban transformation has been consistent since I dropped my anchor down in New Yawk.

I've never even lived in a suburb. In fact, I grew up within the city and I was self-sufficient at a very young age. Meaning, I could walk myself to the store or to the game center or my friends' houses, I didn't require a car to get around in the universe of my childhood, I just needed walking shoes. I grew up in Texas, but don't assume I'm "Country", San Antonio is one of the biggest cities in the country, but not "The City". Being slightly urban to begin with, it was an easier transition from one city to the next and now I live in the heart of an inner city playground where sensible shoes make sense but they aren't fabulous. And if you're not feeling fabulous when walk out the door then you carry that lack of self-confidence around for thousands of people to cast judgments upon. That's not good! Shoes are much more important in the city where nearly nobody owns a car. Shoes are status symbols, vehicles, big statements and the natural place to look while trying to avoid eye contact. Avoiding eye contact is always fun way to pass the time except when you find yourself in a spontaneous dance party. People in my hood like to pump up their stereos and practice dance moves on the sidewalk, but for this kind of activity, sneakers are still the only way to go.