new shoes!

A long time ago i read a short story by Ray Bradbury entitled The Sound of Summer Running. In it he extols the delightful feeling of new sneakers and how they can make a person feel exuberantly ready to run.

Although i do enjoy the springiness of new shoes, i don't particularly like running. I like gamboling, frisking around like a puppy after Frisbees i rarely catch. In Cameroon i walked several miles several times a week with a friend or two, and sometimes we'd run up the hills to get them over sooner. I'd bolt if it was raining and i was unprepared to be soaked. But in general, i haven't run much in recent history.

So, coming back without a lot of luggage room, my sneakers didn't make the cut. They had been dyed a dusty orange from walking & jogging on a orange dirt road for two years, the tread was nearly worn, and besides, they'd been to all kinds of agricultural land and through all kinds of...stuff. Not exactly the thing to make customs agents happy.

I didn't buy a new pair as soon as i got back. I have 'nice' shoes for work where sneakers are unacceptable. I don't run; it's too cold (to me) to hike right now; i'm happy walking in my sturdy sandals. I've gotten back into a walking routine, slowly--it's less fun alone, most of the time, although i do enjoy the quasi-solitude and quietness. Sometimes i walk with a friend--but it's a little creepy at night, even with a friend and a stick. Last night i felt like breaking into a run, but i didn't--it's hard to run holding a stick--and i was wearing sandals. I trip just walking when wearing my sandals; sometimes i trip while barefoot; and i had just had a painful reminder of my klutziness:

Last week i exuberantly broke into a run, randomly, while fetching something from my car. Alas, i was wearing loose flats. One slid off mid-stride, i tripped over it, and in painful slow motion crashed and skidded to my hands and knees. Jeans sure do come in handy in times like that! I have a huge bruise on one knee (why only one i don't know since they both hurt).

I decided it was time to invest in a pair of good sneakers.

So, today on the way to work i trotted down to my favorite out-doorsie store. A nice lady asked me about my plans for my sneakers, made recommendations, measured my feet, and brought out four varieties. I happily tried them on, walked up and down a ramp, skipped around a little bit...15, maybe 20 minutes later, i was the happy owner of a new pair of sneakers. Yay! Effortless, painless, and now i have happy feet. Tomorrow i am going to run.

(Until i find out i need my inhaler. That is harder to get here.)