Cautious Optimism

Buying new Tevas

Journal: 17 January, 2025, morning.

I ordered some Tevas yesterday. Not the fabled and favorite sandals we used to love, but a pair of, well, I’m not sure but they look a little like Crocs, or clogs, or Birkenstocks, the ones with the enclosed toes. These Tevas have rugged soles (no slipping!) and promise to be comfy and lightweight and kind to my toes. Kindness to my toes is of greater importance these days than in the distant past when appearance was of greater concern.

I remember the exact moment I crossed that great divide from looks to comfort. It came to me while walking around downtown Dallas for hours handing out flyers (asking for help in finding one of our missing senior managers at Coopers & Lybrand) in three inch heels because that’s what we wore back then, along with our navy suits and white blouses. We were happy to help and it was painful. So painful. I went home, hung up my heels, and vowed “never again.” And I haven’t. And now, all these years later, my toes are unmarked by those pointy instruments of torture.

The walking and leaflets were of no avail, by the way. Our missing senior manager was found hidden in her home, in a closet, murdered by her husband in a fit of jealousy because she was a rising star soon to make partner and he was not, being a passed over manager at a second tier firm. I haven’t thought of all this in so long but the shoes memory brought it all back. An oddity: I interviewed with that second tier firm before taking the job at C&L and the future wife killer took me to lunch that day. He seemed perfectly normal (isn’t that what people always say?).

Well. Back on track here. I hope the new Tevas are as promised. You can never tell anymore because the brand name is no guarantee. Companies are sold, owners cash out and retire, the suits come in and lower the quality and hike up the price and make beaucoup profits until people discover what they think they’re buying and getting is not at all what they’re buying and getting. I am cautiously hopeful but not totally optimistic.

This is why I love buying old stuff, when I can find it. I have my Mom’s original Magnalite roaster and Pyrex baking dishes and you can’t buy them now, ones like the originals. The formulas have changed, the quality is lesser. Plus, I just like reusing things, the whole idea of that.

Wish me luck with my Tevas, if you will. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Living, we have to accept a certain amount of disappointment. It just happens. But “nothing ventured,” you know. So on we go, buying shoes, searching for love and friendship, expecting good things, and all things considered I’d rather be that way than any other way. I think it’s a much more enjoyable way to spend our days here.

#journalingalife