A Girl And Her Red Shoes

My daughter has been pining for red suede Vince Camuto heels. They are classic heels, different from the kind you might see worn at a strip club. Does she need them? Absolutely not. They are impractical, yet they would give her the pop of red that is so in this year. They would go with many of the outfits she wears to dress up for the various service projects she’s involved in. Plus, she loves to dress up any chance she gets. She prefers “fancy” over sweatpants. On the other hand, she could wear the black pair of heels she already has. They are practical and fit the bill. But…sometimes a girl has to have something impractical or something she doesn’t need but wants. 

Impracticality is only natural to some of us. I am one of those who lives her life on the conservative side. Many of us live life constantly analyzing the need vs. want theory. For those of us who are Practical, with a capital P, this impulse or draw to whatever it is, even red suede shoes, is like a jolt. It’s a chance to walk on the wild side. It’s the kind of impulsivity that is safe yet rewarding. Sometimes, we need something outside of our nature, even if it’s just slightly outside of the lines. Something that doesn’t have a tremendous amount of risk, yet the reward feels so significant. 

This feeling of reward brings me to the point of giving. Tis the season! Sometimes, we need to give to others what has been given to us or that we won’t give to ourselves. I’m not talking about giving someone a taste of their own medicine, but instead giving someone a similar experience or feeling that was once given to us that made us feel so cherished and left a lasting impact - lifelong nostalgia. Perhaps the person who gave us that feeling had to be impulsive or step outside their box to make whatever happened for you.

One of those things was the year I received red clogs for Christmas. I was a child in the early 1980s (about nine or ten years old) and loved clogs. I had a couple pairs of clogs in different styles and colors, but I wanted red clogs - the kind with the little slits on the top. I remember when I saw them in the store. I thought they were the best thing ever. They instantly went to the top of my Christmas list. They even trumped the Barbie items on my list. 

My daughter’s reaction when she saw the red suede Vince Camuto’s mirrored mine as a child when I saw the red clogs. The desire and excitement she felt for the shoes was familiar to me. The memory of the red clogs came flooding back to me. I wanted to resist this feeling as she already has so much. I tried to remind myself that she shouldn’t get everything she wants. I felt the parental responsibility not to overindulge her. But…then I remembered the red clogs. 

I remembered what it felt like to see them in the box when I opened them on Christmas morning.  Pure euphoria!  It was my version of A Christmas Story's Red Ryder BB gun. Years later, I learned that my mom made extra effort to ensure I got the red clogs that Christmas. I realized she worked extra hours so I could have them. The moment on Christmas morning, coupled with how the clogs made their way under our Christmas tree, has stayed with me. I’m 51 now and still remember. 

This is why my daughter is getting the red suede heels. The nostalgia of the red clogs makes me want to repeat that feeling - pay it forward. Every girl deserves to feel like a million bucks or have that one thing that makes them feel different and extra special. They may seem like just shoes to someone else, but it’s the feeling you get knowing how they came to be and how someone knew that and made it happen for you. Yes, the shoes are a material possession and won’t last forever, but the nostalgia and memory will last a lifetime. 

I want to see my daughter on Christmas Eve wearing the shoes to church and loving how amazing they make her feel both on the inside and outside. It will be her Christmas as Cinderella, except the feeling of being a princess lasts a lifetime because of where the gift came from and how it came to be. It fills my cup to bring her this unexpected joy. My heart is bursting with happiness just thinking about the look on her face, knowing her nature and the reaction she will show. I’m grateful for Nordstrom and their Wish List notifications when an item goes on sale. It’s not the same hard work my mom put into making my red clogs happen, but it’s a different time and mode of resourcefulness. 

Now the question is…will I be able to wait and give them to her on Christmas Eve, or will I cave and give them to her sooner so she can enjoy them longer? That’s the Practical (with a capital P) side of me challenging the impulse and excitement of the surprise. I hope this holiday season finds you remembering something special and feeling the impulse to put the gratitude from that special something to work and give it back in whatever form that works for you.