Shoes on Campus

Funny things make me feel like an old lady. The shoes I choose to wear on campus are one of them.

Walking to and from class, and all around our brick path campus, I can’t help but notice people’s shoe choice. I am always stunned to see heels– and even stilettos! I am confused by the plethora of flip-flops. And, I feel like my grandmother when I look down at my own white tennis shoes.

My grandmother, so far as I know, has never cared about her shoes. She’s all about comfort and never about fashion. I know she loves the color pink but, other than that, I don’t believe she thinks much about her clothing choices each day.

I have always admired her fashion apathy. Or, well, now I do anyway; I admit, I was a little embarrassed at 16. Today, at 31 years old, the idea of wearing high heels or flip-flops on campus hurts my back. The between-toe blisters and raw heels my fellow classmates must endure are sure to be nightmare-ish.

I like to think, and often say, that I don’t care what people think of me, except that I obviously care quite bit– enough to stare at people’s shoes and then write about it, anyway. But, even if it means I’m “out”, in a Heidi Klum kinda way, I’m happy with my Saucony tennies, which I will also wear later in the gym, and I’m even happier with my gel inserts that make all of the difference for my high arch. (Ever pulled your plantar fascia? It’s not fun or easy to recover from.)

Being a dozen years older than some of my classmates and being outspoken already makes me feel like an outsider in class. If there was any doubt, I think my shoes seal that deal.