Life is always bringing unexpected gifts. – May Sarton
So, I’m discussing footwear with an old, old buddy,
and he asks me,
“How do you feel about flashy, colorful shoes?”
“I live for that shit,” I replied.
And then I told him this story….
I still remember leaving the host hotel
of the Houston Marathon (1982?),
headed for some country & western meet-market
and this bell boy stops me,
“You better not go out like that, sir.”
“Excuse me, like what?”
“Those shoes, sir.”
I looked down at my chrome Nikes
with the candy-apple hard, smooth disco soles.
The lobby light reflecting
like something state troopers
might ring a tragic accident at night.
“You’ll get beat up by some cowboy
if you go out in those shoes.”
I thanked him
and went back to my room
and changed.