Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Intervention

Sometimes you have an experience in life that is so ridiculous, you have to share it. A while back, my friend Alma sat me down for a talk regarding my shoes. Yes, she staged a shoe intervention. I've never been much of a shoe girl. I wore what was comfortable and what I had laying around or the hand-me-downs my friends had given to me. I had a lot of shoes because I never really threw any of them away. I thought all was well in the world until Alma stopped by, dove into my closet and started throwing out my shoes. It would seem she was the delegated representative for my friends to toss out all my old and out-of-date shoes. She informed me, while holding up a really comfortable pair, that the pilgrim buckle was out and wouldn't be coming back anytime soon. She dubbed them my pilgrim shoes. I called my other shoe loving friend to my defense, but she was like, "Thank goodness. Those shoes are ugly!" Alma explained why she was throwing out some shoes and not others and pointed out which ones she would wear with different outfits.
It was bit like being on that show 'What Not to Wear', only this one would be called 'What Not to Wear on Your Feet'. Haha... ho... hum... *clears throat*. Anyway, I think in total she donated two huge trash bags full of shoes to charity. The next day I saw on TV that the pilgrim buckle was making a comeback and I called my two friends in glee. They both said the same thing. "Maybe the buckle is coming back, but never those shoes." LOL. I still think they were cute but since then, a few other friends have admitted they hated them too. I had no idea so many people were looking at my shoes nor that I had such bad taste in them.
The whole thing was so funny. I really had no idea shoes were such serious business.
I actually had a shoe intervention written in the second draft of Intrinsical. Yara was upset that Cherie had thrown away a pair of her favorite shoes and how unfair it was. It got cut, but all my friends involved loved that scene. (And wrote comments back to me to remind me that the shoes really were ugly!)
So now I'm always a little nervous to buy shoes. I always get a second opinion. According to all my friends, my taste in shoes has improved. Actually I had a little black pair (that I picked out by myself) that I wore to an upscale restaurant in New York City. I was in the bathroom and a lady was like,"I love your shoes! Where did you get them?" I had to hold back a laugh that someone in fashionable New York was asking me that. I smiled and told her, "I got them at Walmart." She cocked her head to the side, wrinkled her brow and said, "I don't think we have one of those here." LOL. Yeah, I was pretty sure they didn't. That exchange in the bathroom made me smile. See, I've made progress! I'm still not big into shopping for shoes but I do pay a lot more attention than I used to!

9 comments:

Maddy said...

those shoes were ugly!!!! it's unfortunate that we didn't take any pictures to remind you years later just how bad they were...
your shoe picking ability has def improved though and the NYC shoes were really cute :)

Unknown said...

Lani, Lani, Lani. You are lucky I never saw your shoes. I was given the name "Imelda" a few years ago. That was when I realized that I had a serious problem. I turned it around though. Now, you can too.

Anna J. Adams said...

I am guilty of not-so-stylish shoes but I did buy a red pair b/c I read somewhere that every girl should have a pair of red shoes. My dog helps eat the ones that I leave out, so I can always loan you my dog and she'll take care of any shoes you are unsure about. Good for Alma for having the courage to go through all your shoes!

Tait said...

The pilgrim shoes were bad. I didn't know whether to break out into a Thanksgiving dinner or find an Indian friend..Glad she didnt put up too much of a fight or I would have packed her to on the Mayflower and shipped her out.
Another pair she forgot to mention where her dyed Green "pumps" ...yes pumps..but they nicely matched her velvet green dress with white lace collar..I love you Lani. Even though I am not there to check now I can always send over my little shoe fairies to take care of business. WAtch out cause they do bite.

notesfromnadir said...

From what I've heard they really do sell shoes in Walmart, even if many of the customers don't actually wear them!

I think this is a case of someone preferring comfort over fashion. If you like Pilgrim buckles then wear them. Remember, writers are supposed to be a little eccentric!

Katelyn Burton said...

Aww I really wish that scene in Intrinsical hadn't gotten cut! That would've been funny to read. Especially with this background story lol.

And do they really not have a Walmart in New York?

Chelle said...

love this post! my shoe problem is different..i can't stop buying cute shoes but never wear my 5 inch stilletos (95% of my shoes) because I'm home with the kids all day. You think I'd learn but i just bought another pair lasst week. Soemday I'll be sexy again....

Lesley said...

I haven't bought a new pair of shoes in at least 2 years. I'm guilty of the same problem!
"I got them at Walmart." Hilarious! :)
Yay for progress, at least one of us has some cute shoes!

Lani Woodland said...

Maddy- I would probably still think they were cute. :)

Thank you Stacey for believing in my ability to change. :)

LOL Alma! Those were green shoes, were ones I had to wear, when I was bridesmaid in a wedding!

Thanks LIsa! I appreciate your support. :) I

Katie- I was sad to cut that scene. I thought it was really funny. I don't think they have a Walmart in Manhattan.

I'm sorry Michelle. I know you love your shoes! YOu need to make Kevin take you out on lots of fancy dates. :)

Thank Lesley! I'm glad to know I'm not alone. :)