My first pair of shoes were a pale pink with two velcro straps that wrapped around my petite foot. I was barely three weeks old when I first wore them out of the house to show all my fiends, family and admirers. My Aunt, in particular, was extremely excited. She was the one that bought them for me.
My first time shopping for my own shoes was on my fifth birthday. I was starting Kindergarten in a few weeks and my mom promised me a new pair of tennis shoes if I did a few chores at home. I got bright blue tie-up shoes with a purple adidas sign on the side. My mom had to teach me how to tie them up.
My first pair of boots came from my grandpa at Christmas time. They were the exact ones that I wanted. Everyone already had them at school, and now I had them too. They were warm and cozy but they still got wet in the snow. I didn't care though because they were exactly the same as everyone else. When I wore them on the first day back from winter break, I learned how quickly fads can pass.
My first pair of heels came along with my first fancy dress, my first pair of fake nails, and my first dance. My friends and I went shopping together. The heels matched perfectly with the gold detail of my dress and all my friends said they looked perfect for my skin tone. My friends also carried them home for me on the night of the dance after my date dumped me.
My first time buying my daughter shoes was my most favorite time shoe shopping. I chose cream colored velcro shoes that had a glitter nike sign on the side. My dad was the one to put the shoes on my daughter for the first time. It was too bad that she kicked them off not even thirty seconds later.
My first time receiving “old lady” slippers (or at least my daughter called them that) was when I moved to Florida with my husband after we retired. I never told my daughter that I couldn't use them because they made my feet too warm. Instead, I bought her ”new mom” slippers.
My last pair of shoes came a day after I found out I had cancer. My husband bought me a pair of new sandals. They helped keep my feet cool while undergoing Chemo. He was there for everything, including when my feet needed massaged. Okay, maybe they didn't “need” massaged, but he always seemed eager to do it.
My last pair I bought were for my husband’s corpse. I didn't feel the sadness I’d expected. I felt confused at why I was still here when the doctors had said I would be gone three months ago. The funeral director asked me if I wanted to use a pair of shoes my husband already owned but I told him it didn’t really matter.
My final days are upon me now and I smile as I remember all the shoes that stepped into my life. I remember the soles that carried me through times of happiness and times of sadness. I remember the outrageous amount I spent on a pair I wore twice and the clearance ones that lasted me three years. But most of all, I remember the people that were with me when I wore them and bought them. The people are the memories I cherish most, for I could not have walked the paths I did without them along with me.
