Walking into that shoe-filled haven of stability and cushioning, I felt giddy with possibilities. Only not for myself. For my sister. Today was her 29th birthday.
I had been waiting for this all day! After having such a fun time buying and wearing, running and singing and dancing and jumping in my
She was excited, and I was, too. I had prepared her as best I could...
You will be forced to undress.
Someone will be touching your bare-naked feet.
You may want to find your toenail clippers.
If you wear socks, check for holes...they will be seen.
Chances are, there will be an audience.
As we made our way out of the car and across the parking lot, I remembered to tell my sister that she would also have to run some laps in each of the shoes that she tried on. As she burrowed into her button-down peacoat jacket, adjusted her Happy Birthday tiara on her freshly straightened hair, and dusted off her brand new jeans, I thought it was kind of funny I didn’t mention that physical exertion would be involved until now.
We made quite a group. Crammed into the store there was me, my sister, my brother-in-law Frank, and my nephew Isaiah (who is the cutest five year old in the whole world. If you don’t believe me, ask him and he’ll tell you). At the time we arrived, there was one other customer. She made a hasty exit.
We were greeted by the same nice fellow that helped me with my shoe journey. I believe his name was Paul. Oh good! It’s going exactly as I had hoped! And as for my sister, her experience started off just as I had predicted. She completely disrobed, leaving her socks and ankle-high heel boot things (I don’t know what they are. All my shoes have laces) off to the side. Later on she would tell me that her feet were sweating so bad from the boot things that she just knew Paul had noticed. Didn’t you see him wipe his hands on his jeans???
I stood stoically by her side, tactfully turning my head at the more incriminating parts of the foot-measuring process. It was a little hard to focus, anyway, between the flashes from the camera Frank was using to snap a few pictures of my sister’s poor, naked foot on the measuring plate. I could tell the little thing just wanted to curl up and hide.
But before we knew it, Paul went behind the magical curtain and came out with boxes upon boxes upon boxes of bright, bold, fresh, little running shoes! Oh, what a colorful and exciting assemblage of running possibilities lay before our very eyes!
One by one, my sister tried on each pair, braving the cold to test them for a few laps around the parking lot. I watched as the innocent round eyes of her novice runner past turned into the quest of a seasoned runner searching for the perfect shoe. Luckily, Frank’s efforts of jumping, bending, twisting, and possibly squatting inside the store to try to snap a few pics of my sister running past the window caught most of this on film.
Finally, she had narrowed it down to two pairs. And, once Frank twisted her arm to get the more expensive pair that she really wanted but didn’t want to admit she wanted, my sister bought the shoes. Her very own
Wow, I could have jumped up and cheered! What a glorious way to celebrate your 29th birthday. My sister had the bright, little, bold, little shoes, and now all her bright, little, bold, little running dreams could come true. I am so proud of her.
Cor,
You should know that you are an amazing person. You should never feel that you haven’t “done enough,” or that you haven’t accomplished anything. I mean, everyone does feel that way sometimes. Like, last week, when I ate half a dozen cupcakes (actually, scratch “half”), I felt that way, too. But, the most important things in life, the things that actually matter, you’ve already done. You are the most giving, sweetest, funniest, most fun person to be around. You make everyone around you happy and everyone’s life is better for having known you. That’s an accomplishment.
And, just in case you ever start to feel down for being 29, I want you to remember this day, your 29th birthday. Remember coming into my work? Man, I was so happy to see you guys! Remember going into the party room and seeing your gift, and balloons, and chalkboard message? Remember opening your 13.1 magnet and Runner Mom headband? Remember hula-hooping with your guys (and, I’m assuming, doing wayyy better…I saw the pics)? Those are the memories I want you to always have with you.
And, most importantly, I want you to remember me. Remember when I came into the party room and surprised you and Frank and Isaiah? Remember how I dressed up as Menchie? Yes, that’s right, please remember that. I, at 26 years old, dressed up as a giant frozen yogurt. I had on giant foam feet, enormous felt gloves, and a colossal swirl of yogurt on my head. As hysterical as I thought it was to surprise you guys by dressing up as my work’s mascot, I want you to remember that this is my JOB. It is my job to dance and jump and bounce and hug and high-five as an eight-foot tall frozen dairy treat. I elicit a combination of fear, anger, happiness, and tears in children of all ages. I have been punched, groped, and declared a fake. The tears may fall on the inside, but the smile never leaves the fro yo swirl on the outside.
So remember, Cor, this will be an epic and exciting year for you. Now, on your 29th birthday, you have your new, magical Newtons
Love you, Cor,
Rhonda
absolutely wonderful! You're my hero! MISS YOU
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