The Ties That Bind

The Small One and I have a bit of a thing about shoes. It's a wish fulfillment thing, really, because (and maybe you've heard me talking about this before) most shoes simply don't fit.My feet are a size 2 (4.5 in the U.S. I think). The Small One caught me up when she turned 11 and we are wishing, pushing, urging her feet on even just a little further so that she reaches an adult size 3. Shoe Nirvana. Oh! the possibilities! I don't need high heels much these days. I spend most of my time in kids sneakers and flat boots with extra socks; but a girl can dream. And sometimes get lucky..

The Small One recently spotted her hearts desire: shiny, patent Mary Janes. They were in the teenage department, so a size 2 was theoretically achievable. But they were out of stock. Now, I've lived with this for years and sometimes enough is enough. I took a deep breath and said Today, dearest daughter, we are going to say I can instead of I can't. I let her buy the size 3. They are too big, to be sure; but she's getting to be old enough to learn how the world works. Not everything is always what it seems. If you can't make it, as they say, then fake it. Buy the next size up and buckle 'em on as tight as they will go. I've done it before and I'm sure that I'll do it again. She doesn't really have a need for high Mary Janes any more than I do. But we had fun buying them and we talked about saying yes I can when you've set your heart on something. And I hope that's a good thing.

She said her shoes were killer; so that's what I called my page. And when I looked at it and saw that it kind of had a Bonnie and Clyde feel, I thought yes, I'll stick with that and here it is: