shoes
Forever ago, it seems now, Steve wrote about his intention to make it through the whole summer without wearing pants. Well, I made it through the whole summer without wearing real shoes, ever. And summer lasts a lot longer here than in Boston.
I got these purple Birkenstocks my first year in college, which means I've had them for eleven years now. At some point, I came to regard them as good-luck shoes, and have been having them cobbled and re-soled over and over again in an attempt to render them immortal. I wore them (alternated with a more sedate tan pair for formal occasions) from May to October this year, and my feet are striped with tan marks to prove it.
It saddens me to think that this is most likely my last year with the Happy Purple Birkenstocks that have kept me company during the first decade of my adult life. They've lasted longer than most friends or any lovers. The nice people at Ozark Outdoor refuse to re-sole them one more time. They say it's time to let go, because the cork is starting to deteriorate. I can send them off for repair again for $65, or I can buy a brand-new pair for $80. It doesn't really make sense to keep hanging on ... but I just really like these shoes.
Comments
Well done! In a crazy coincidence, I had to retire my trusty red Birks this summer, because the cork (where there's any left) has pulled away from the rubber and every time I tried to walk the toe curled under the sole and I tripped. Which made me look pretty darn silly.
Posted by: Steve Himmer | October 25, 2003 11:31 AM
Oh, these did that too. I put them back together with Gorilla Glue.
Posted by: Krista | October 25, 2003 12:11 PM
I might've tried that, had there been enough cork left anywhere to actually glue to the sole...
Posted by: steve | October 25, 2003 2:22 PM
Great shoes, great story. I sympathize. Not with Birks, but with two pair of western boots that just gave out. I keep them around, but don't make them tote me anymore. :)
Posted by: peggy | October 25, 2003 5:00 PM
I learned some time ago that I can't keep birks for all that long. I won't say why, but you can imagine.
I also have horribly ugly feet, and so that limits my use of them.
But last summer, I wore my knock-off birks exclusively. I didn't wear socks for 3 months.
Posted by: Scott | October 26, 2003 12:40 AM
where can one get a pair of purple birkenstocks, not the outdoor polyurethane kind?
any web sites you can recommend? i think the purple birks like yours have a good vibe output for something inanimate. i would be ever so grateful if you could point me in the direction of some of my own! I don't know why, but I'm obsessed with finding these shoes!
Posted by: Jill | November 23, 2003 11:40 PM