-Isms: Views on life in rural America

In middle school, my favorite shoes were Chucks. I had three pairs: red, white and black. They were comfy. And, honestly, I didn’t care what shoes I wore. I wasn’t trying to make a fashion statement.

That changed by the time I was a sophomore. I still owned several sets of Chucks, but the fashionista gene was kicking in and platform shoes and Mary Janes were preferred footwear.

Through the years, I grew to like tennis shoes less and less, owning a single pair that would last for years.

Instead, I’d collect boots and heels and sandals in all colors, all heights, all heel sizes. Soon, my shoe collection filled one rack on one wall in my office and stuffed a shoe bag slung over the closet door. Now, many are scattered across the living room floor, a tripping hazard waiting to happen. I promised Scott I’d get them all put away once football season ends. I promise, dear.

Then, this sciatica trouble hit and now, the only shoes that feel comfortable are tennis shoes. Not just any tennis shoe either, because those inexpensive fashion sneakers - slip-ons with a thin layer of rubber for soles - don’t make the cut. I can feel every single pebble in my path when I wear a pair.

No, I have to wear Adidas Cloudfoam Pure shoes. They have decent support, but ... they’re tennis shoes.

Not fashionable at all.

At least they’re neutral. They’re gray.

When you’re used to color coordinating shoes with an outfit, the idea of having to wear sneakers with dress clothes freaks me out.

Sure, when I coached speech, it was nothing to slip on a pair of tennis shoes and sprint across campus to watch each of my students perform during state speech. Once in the correct building, the tennies came off. Easy peasy. It was justifiable because, on an average state speech day, I’d easily cruise 10 to 12 miles around the University of Nebraska campus.

But now? The idea of wearing tennis shoes all day long bothers me. Kind of like the SAS shoes Grandma would wear.

It’s a sign of getting old and I am not ready to admit that I’ve hit the 60-something zone.

Maybe I need a pair of retro sneakers that make a fashion statement.

Not sure Scott will be happy if I splurge for a pair of Prada leather sneakers or Veja organic cotton canvas shoes.

Maybe, just maybe, I need to a good-old pair of Chucks. They’re classic, retro and comfy. They don’t scream “tennis shoes.” And, they come in a variety of colors.

Perfect.