11.24.07 Shoes
I’ve never bought my kids a pair of shoes. Ever.
Every pair they’ve worn has come from Papa, my father-in-law. Shoes are a big deal to my father-in-law.
He grew up in a place called Buoy Courts, a government housing project in Texarkana, Texas. He wore potato sack clothes, and apparently didn’t have shoes that fit. He worked hard, studied hard, played football well enough to go to the University of Arkansas on a scholarship, then, after graduation, went to seminary and got a doctorate. He put a couple or three siblings through school too. (One of them also became a pastor.) He eventually became kind of a big deal in his denomination, the president of something or other and now he pastors a church in the Houston area. He has a big closet these days full of suits and pants and belts and shoes.
And I’ve never bought my kids a pair of shoes. Ever.
Every pair they’ve worn, including the ones they got today, have come from Papa.
Shoes are a big deal to Papa. And when we tell our kids why, we hope shoes become a big deal to them too.
said:
My father was the same way about shoes. He wore a 14AA, a very long, skinny, foot for a guy. He never had shoes that fit as a kid either and even as an adult, had to search for the right size. When he found a pair, he’d re-sole and re-heel them forever. He was always checking our feet when we were little and insisted that my mom buy only Buster Browns when we were little. I deployed to the Middle East when Alex was a baby and he’d call Scott once a week to make sure Alex had good shoes!
Beth
Anon said:
This is irrelevant, but shoes was one of the first words of my niece who is 18 months! She loves shoes!
Seth Ward said:
He’s a heck of a guy. We miss him. Tell him and Brenda we said hello.
As a matter of fact, I am sitting, right now, on his old office chair. Amazing, wood and leather, reclining, old fashioned, Texas-style office chair.
You and Brian missed out on this sucker. Bigtime.
Scott said:
I sure can relate. My grandfather was the benevolent shoe fairy at our house. I remember my mother hot gluing our soles back on and telling us to walk softly, because Granpa would come to visit any week.
My Dad is kind of the same way with coats. Anyone who needs a coat, he has one fer ‘em. Big coats, little coats, furry coats, leather 70’s coats....
said:
Wow. No wonder why you are so granola. 5 shirts, 1 pair of shoes, etc…
Jack Bauer aka Just Matt said:
Speaking of shoes - if you haven’t heard of TOMS Shoes - check them out. A great idea and comfy shoes too!
http://www.tomsshoes.com