Different Kinds of Shoes

Last week was a difficult week for me.


I spent pretty much the ENTIRE week crying...and working through the very complicated logistics of some very important things.


Bottom line:  It looks as though my ten-year, delightful run of being a homeschooling mother is coming to an end, and that my boys will be entering school this fall.  I have not blogged lately because I am not yet strong enough emotionally to talk about this, and it's been the one and ONLY topic in my life for a long while now.  And I'm not even exaggerating about the large amounts of crying that I have been doing lately.


So, yesterday I begged my sweet husband to please, please take me somewhere pretty.  I didn't care where.  And he was more than happy to oblige. 

On our way to Somewhere Pretty, we detoured somewhere else in honor of Shannon & Dave, or Mr. & Mrs. Crazy Footwear (Cyberbones).  Remember back when Dave lost his mind and then lost his mind again and then Shannon lost her mind?  Yeah, well, so do we.  Because, honestly, who wouldn't?


But before we get to that, let me just say the following:  I am NOT a girly-girl.  I've actually struggled a lot with trying to become more "girly" as the years go by.  I've only recently (in the last year or two) cared if the shoes I'm wearing aren't hideously ugly (for two years I actually wore nothing but hand-me-down tennis shoes left over from my then-eight-year-old-son, after he both wore them out AND outgrew them!), and only about a year ago did I paint my toenails for the first time EVER. 


But I know that guys appreciate girly things, so if my handsome husband has to eat at the same buffet day in and day out for a lifetime, the least the buffet can do is try to look cute.  You know?


Anyway.

Ever since reading about Shannon & Dave's footwear, James has been seriously interested in getting a pair of those shoes.  So we went to a local store and tried some on.





DUDE.  Getting this things onto your feet is HARD.


You have to pull and tug...





...and you have to position each and every toe into its little toe-sleeve. 





Sleeveing each toe is a serious undertaking. 


I would possibly equate the entire process with putting on panty hose.  When you're sweaty.  Because the shoe sort of sticks to your skin and is very clingy and tricky to pull up easily.  Plus, your toes do NOT want to naturally slide into their little toe sleeves. 





The end result looks somewhat Alienish in nature. 


James walked around in this shoe for a while, getting a feel for it.  Which meant, of course, that I JUST HAD to try one on, too. 






And so I did.


And I sat, and took a picture (for posterity and the world, etc.) and thought primly to myself, "Good heavens, Shannon, these things are UGLY." 


And I stripped the thing off my foot (no small undertaking;  they're like putting on and taking off second skins) and stuffed it back in its box... and that was the end of it for me.


James, on the other hand, walked thoughtfully around in his pair and has since ordered them in black.


Well, that's fine and good for James, I told myself.  He'll look cute wearing whatever shoes his heart desires, but I wouldn't be caught DEAD in those things.  And we moved on with our day.

The Beautiful Place that James took me was to Turkey Run Park. 


Beautiful, indeed!  We got out of our car.  We were surrounded by trees.  There's a gorgeous, scenic trail leading town to the Potomac.  Lovely!  Gorgeous!!







And also... Rocky.  And steep.


And all of a sudden, the cute, high-heeled sandals, jeans skirt and pedicure just Weren't Cutting It. 

Hmmm...







James pointed out to me how the steep trail wound dramatically around toward the water... far, far below. 

I can totally do this, I thought.  So I wore the wrong shoes for this sort of hiking/trail thing?  So what?


And I started delicately picking my way through the trail.







Okay, so.   The useless, pointless, high-heeled sandals came off almost immediately.


Because when you're walking on pebbles, rocks and branches, bare feet are FAR superior to high-heeled sandals.


And my thoughts started drifting back to... the rugged shoes I had so haughtily scorned earlier that afternoon. 


Huh, I thought to myself.  Those toe-sleeve things would be looking pretty attractive right about now!






High heeled sandals just... really don't help when you're hiking a rocky trail.


But I made it!  And I didn't even get hurt.  Okay, I didn't really get VERY hurt. 


And the Potomac River was so gorgeous.  It was worth the barefoot walk over rocks, stones, and tree roots.






Out in the middle of the river, there were huge boulders:


 


A feast for the eyes and the camera!


There was even a very large snake swimming by.  It stopped and rested a bit on a big rock:





Score 1 for me:  I didn't freak out, even though it was swimming around close to us.  Because I'm down with snakes.  I used to own about 12.  Though, of course, none of the ones I owned were venomous, as I believe that this one was.  Because I like, you know, being alive and all.






Standing around near the water, being barefooted wasn't half bad.  The rocks were cool to the touch and the whole experience was very earthy and pleasant.


But that was, of course, before the climb back UP the trail to the car.





James volunteered to carry my useless, high-heeled sandals during the steep climb back up to the car. And my camera bag.  Because that's what chivalrous gentlemen do.


And I eventually made it!  Bare feet and all.  But very, very humbled.  And sorta kinda wishing I'd been wearing a certain pair of no-longer-considered-ugly shoes that I had tried on earlier that day!


And then God sent another kind of Shoe my way.


A "Song Shoe."


(Because that's how you pronounce this cute little guy's name in Mandarin Chinese):






Song Shoe!  (Actually:  songshu)


He came down out of the tree in which he was hanging upside-down and posed for me.

 



Getting these pictures of him was quite a treat! 


So, Shannon?  YOU WIN.  Because you know how to properly attire yourself for hikes, and I have now shown that I certainly DON'T.  But let the record further reflect that I would WAY prefer to be barefoot around venomous serpents than correctly clothed on a LIVE MILITARY FIRING RANGE.


The End.

Comments

[Connie]

Oh No! So sorry you have had hard times to cry over lately, but so happy you have a sweetheart of a husband to take you on an outing when you desperately needed one. My net has been terribly slow lately and I am behind on news and such... sorry I've been out of touch and wish I was there to share hugs, coffee, and a shoulder when you need it. :( I don't know if I've missed if you've said why things are giving you a hard time, esp. with the homeschooling, but I'm sending you some long distance caring!!! btw... I am so totally jealous of your beautiful manicured toesies tiptoe-ing through the forest! As usual, you have some amazing photos to share. That squirrel is cute! Seriously! I love to barefeet, and there's hardly ever a place safe enough to do so. Not sure I would want a pair of shoes that are so hard to get on/off either... as I said, I prefer barefeet and even lace shoes interfere with that goal. For difficult terrain, we've discovered LL Bean's Explorer sandals. Cool, comfy, tough! They aren't as darling as those high-heeled sandals you're modeling, but they're cute in an outdoorsy sort of way. Anyway... extra hugs, and hope things turn around for you soon!

[Zoe]

I meant to e-mail you about the homeschooling decision when I saw your house-hunting post on Livelines the other day. I'd be interested in the details if/when you decide to share them. It's a huge decision, and as you know from our previous conversations, what's right at one point isn't necessarily right at another.
That said, I hope you're feeling better about it all soon. Let me know if you need anything.

[Kate]

K,
Hugs to you. From my heart - hugs and comfort.

Loved your pictures and writing. It is so good to "hear" you again.

Abigail would like to know what kind of snake
'twas in your picture. (Of course she would!)

XO,
Kate

[Daniela]

Oh, sorry you've been in the doldrums. Hopefully, you will feel better soon. We are here to "listen" whenever you are ready to talk about it, if it will make you feel better.

I actually think Shannon's crazy shoes are really cute. If they weren't so expensive, I'd be wearing a pair but they alas, they are, so we'll have to wait.

We'll have to go check out Turkey Run Park 'cause it looks lovely. We've driven by it many, many times, just never stopped.

Thanks for the lovely pictures!

[shannon]

FIrst thanks Daniella for saying my shoes are kinda cute. They are totally comfy and after the first few times not too hard to get on. Just saying.

Columbia makes some totally cute, comfy, and easy to put on sandals. They might be a good choice for the trail that let's you show of that adorable pedi you are sporting. My sister-in-law hiked all over Germany wearing some last summer.

I am sorry you are having a hard time with the decision. *hugs* hope you are feeling better soon. I am sure after all the hard work you have put in teaching and guiding your young men that they will excel at whatever challenges come their way.

[shannon]

Oh and I started a blog post on the differences between American Squirrels and European Squirrels but since the external hard drive with all my photos was shipped it will have to wait until we get to Africa. Hopefully all our pictures will make it OK.

[Melissa]

Sorry to hear last week was not a great one! I hope this week goes better for you.

Your sandals (the not practical to go hiking in) are very cute! As always, I loved reading about your adventure. Maybe I will take the kids to check out Turkey Run one day this summer.

[Jessica]

Beautiful pictures! I'm sorry to hear about the tears. I, too, have shed many a tear since this whole FS thing began. There are just so many ups and downs, and emotional landmines, but luckily they are staggered with periods of amazement and opportunity.

I definitely want to try out this hike when we are back in DC. Where is it?

Jess

[Valdysses]

Ugly shoes :( Cute toes :)

Mrs. V and I mourn for you, K. So sorry about your situation and your evolving necessities, but I'm sure you've borne it with grace and aplomb, at least most of the time.

[Jill]

Oh K!! I am so sorry to hear that you're upset - and having a tough time with this decision... I wish I could have been an ear for you. I feel so out of touch - please forgive me!

Though on a funnier note, my husband is DYING for a pair of those type of shoes too ... and as soon as we buy a car his next stop is to the shoe store! Me? I feel the same way as you!

[Stephanie]

Don't go for the toe-shoes! But do go to REI and try on some nice, cute, walking sandals or sneakers, and then when you find a pair and size that you like, go to Zappos or someplace else online and buy them cheaply. They'll be great for walks in all the parks you'll be visiting over the next year.

[TG]

Yes. . . all the emotions of school and decisions and homeschooling and letting go and dreams and daydreams and reality. . . So hard. . . So emotional. *hug*

And, totally hear you on the shoes and pretty toenails and such. *L*

[Emily]

Cute, cute toes. Cute shoes. (The ones you own.) Although the ones you tried on look like they have painted toenails built in, that is fun.

It looks like life is going to be an even bigger adventure for your family. Maybe a daring adventure? Okay, I did it...I went there.
Good luck with the logistical part. For me that is always the most frustrating.

[Chelsea]

While gearing up for this life of adventure (you're closer than I, but still!), we're ready to make a lot of changes. But then the unexpected changes come, and it can be hard. I'm sorry you're facing one right now.
And also, try not to think of how many other people may have tried on those shoes before you. ;)

[shannon]

It’s Friday, and that means that the Weekly State Department Blog Roundup is up – and you’re on it!



Here is the link:
 http://cyberbones.blogspot.com/2010/06/weekly-state-department-roundup.html



(If I quoted your text or used your photo(s) and you would rather I had not, please let me know. Please also be sure to check the link(s) that I put up to you, in order to verify that they work properly. If you would rather that I had not referenced you, and/or do not want me to reference you in the future, please also contact me.)

Thanks!

[mana]

just thank you

[Source Outdoor]

Your sandals are really very cute. It looks like life is going to be daring adventure for you and your family. I love to do.

[Missy]

I totally don't believe you aren't a girly-girl. Dude, look at those toes! A PEDICURE? I was 30 years old before I was brave enough to get one, you know...and that was only cuz someone else forced me and was paying!

Ha!