Thursday, 02 July 2009

• Shoes and Relationships

  I went to Ross yesterday looking for a pair of heels, and I soon realized that looking for shoes is very much like dating. Some shoes look good for one-time wear only, some were definitely not me, some seemed like they would hurt to wear, and some looked really perfect, size and all, until I put them on my feet. They looked great, but I knew they would hurt. I would then rationalize to myself that I could sacrifice my comfort for the shoe until I break it in, but in reality, how long could I be "breaking them in" for?
  
  One particular incident hit home though. It was this beautiful Nine West black heel and closed toe just like I wanted. It was slightly tight at the heel, but what the hell, I thought, I'll get used to them in no time. Since I only had the one, I was immediately on a quest to find the matching shoe. I scrolled through every shelf, every aisle, even going down to the size fives and as high as the tens. Sometimes, I would find a similar shoe that looked like the other half from afar but much to my dismay, it was a different brand, different color, or a different size. I didn't know how long I could be looking for this other half since I was on my lunch break and I didn't have much time to waste.
  
  I would find other shoes that looked great too, but my heart was set on this particular pair. I just had to get this pair. It would go well with every outfit I plan, I thought and my excitement was increasingly burgeoning while thinking of those outfits and I continued to rummage through more shoes. But after 15 minutes of looking and no sign of the shoe, I reluctantly gave up. I was disappointed. How could Ross be so scattered and not be able to keep their shoes together? Shoe shopping is supposed to be fun, but it was turning out to be frustrating and tiring. I stopped looking for the black heel and decided to look for another.
  
  I spotted these gray heels (I figured maybe I should get a different color since all I ever buy are black) and they looked fashionable, but they didn't catch my attention right away. They were already paired and I had seen them already on the shelf before (while looking for the black one). In a way, I was so attached and maybe even obsessed with the black heel still and couldn't pull away from wanting them. Nonetheless, I took the gray pair off the shelf and fit my feet in. And it was a perfect fit, so perfect that a stranger commented on how good they looked on my feet. When I saw them, I didn't expect them to look this good. Unlike the black heel which left me hopeless and tired, I didn't have to go searching for the other half of the gray pair; it came with it already, it was ready to be worn. And it just seemed like the type of shoe you could keep forever. I felt so excited wearing it and it was on sale! I never found the other half of the Nine West heel, but it didn't matter; I'd already found what I wanted although I didn't plan for them when I walked in the store.
  
  I want dating to be fun. To try on different guys to see if I like them is exciting, but it can be frustrating too. You think you've found someone that is great at first and before you know you stick around hoping to "fix" him (as far as shoes, you're trying to find the other other half to make them complete). And then, sometimes, when you aren't expecting it, you find that someone who is complete already, not someone you would ever consider at first but are great for you and complete your look.
  
  

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