romancing the shoe.

another warm, late autumn day in sunny richmond, va. i'm sitting outside on a heavy, black chair watching them wander by, debating for an instant about whether to take the ride. a cyclone of smoke swirls behind me, asking whether or they'll just go in.

there's a woman clad in sneakers, jeans and a white top, pocketbook hugged to her side. a young girl weaves in between what i assume is her mom. there's a struggle for entry - mom has things to do, girl wants to try on new shoes. reluctantly, alleged mom agrees. so we rise from the chairs and head inside, too.

a disclaimer first. i have an 'in' with this store, because one of my best friends is the manager. i plop on the cushions adjacent to the young girl. she's a curious creature, standing high on the tips of her toes to see the slip-on shoe, decorated by sparkles and a pirate cat. it's the one she wants, but alleged mom is crooning over another corner. others circle through the space - a man in his 30s deciding on sneakers or boots, an older woman patiently waiting for her friend to decide if this shoe is the one, etc.

it's the strangest place to see that there's a new romance in the sole of america. yes, i just used the pun. i've never quite noticed the elaborate dance we play with shoes. we're meticulous and plotting - deciphering color, style, matchability, function, trend. we put more effort into what slips over our feet than most decisions in life. because our shoes represent goals, ambitions, priorities. right?

shoes tease us with new designs and value prices. there's a hierarchy - is it a monolo or is it a payless brand? it's a seduction between convincing you this shoe fulfills your needs. and it attaches a price tag to them. these shoes, these wily crafty shoes, create situations to wine and dine you, putting so many on display with informational cards. call it a new type of speed dating.

shoes, in my life, have been these functional beasts. until the day i found a pair of red steve madden shoes that redefined my life. do i have jeans to match? can i find a matching red color belt? i hope people notice them. i've only seen three people with this pair. the nearly maniacal process i went through to decide if i would take these shoes on a life-date became the foundation for every other purchase. and awakened my awareness to doing this with every aspect of my life.

what shoe took you on a date?