Shortly after I had begun the fifth grade, a letter arrived at my house from school. I believe it was addressed to my parents, but being the mail-deprived specimen of youth that I was, and seeing how the return address was recognizably that of my institute of education, I decided to open it. After all, it could conceivably contain important information about what kind of snack we should bring in on our birthdays. Or an itinerary of upcoming field trips. Or details concerning the onset of puberty. Adequately time-sensitive material, I concluded.
I unsealed the envelope with practiced fingers and quickly scanned the letter's contents. My face flushed with wonder and triumph. It was better than all my brainstormed possibilities combined!
"Mom! Mom! Guess what?" I called whilst simultaneously skidding down the linoleum floors of the hallway in my slippery green uniform socks.
"What?" she answered as I rounded the corner into the kitchen.
I locked eyes with her meaningfully. "There's a new rule saying the old rule that we had to wear loafers to school isn't true anymore!" I explained.
"What do you mean?" she prompted.
"We can wear sneakers with our uniforms now without getting in troublel!!" I said excitedly, waving the letter above my head like a really annoying flag.
And thus was my life utterly transformed. Being a discerning and trend-conscious middle schooler, I was deeply concerned with purchasing the right pair of sneakers to properly usher in this sartorial sea-change. My mother was a little confused about why the white velcro Sperrys I wore for P.E. would not suffice.
"But those are just for exercising!" I reasoned. Although I felt that my logic was compelling enough to stipulate immediate gratification in the form of a new pair of sneakers for all my non-sweat-producing school and life activities, she told me that I could wait and wish for them for Christmas.
Luckily, at that point, December was fast approaching. I began conducting diligent brand observation and research. Many of my classmates had ditched their penny loafers in favor of suede, foot-hugging Puma sneakers in bright colors. Others fell into the Nike or Sketchers camps. But it wasn't until I spotted an admirable subset of girls wearing Sauconys that I knew I had finally found the sneaker for me.
I couldn't get enough of their rounded toe, contrasting shades, substantial white platform, lug sole, and 3-hole-punch-resembling insignia. Yup, Sauconys it would be.
I asked for a turquoise pair with brown detailing (in addition to a lava lamp, if I'm remembering correctly). I wore them every day thereafter until the inevitable holes appeared.
Fast forward 10 years later, and I've found myself once again seeking that perfect not-for-P.E. sneaker. With the onset of chillier temperatures, I am ready to retire my linen Supergas and replace them with a more seasonally suitable pair of walk everywhere shoes. While a substantial chunk of the fashion set has deemed New Balance the go-to brand for chicly inclined athletic footwear, I decided to opt for a different--dare I say cooler(?)--sneaker option for all my non-perspirational needs: a pair of tried and true Sauconys. #throwbackthursday, amirite?
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