I don’t think I’ve ever owned a good pair of shoes. Growing up, my dad was a pastor and my mom was a teacher. We didn’t have a lot of money for shoes. So, my footwear selection consisted mostly of cheap shoes from Wal-Mart. It’s something that’s carried over into adulthood as I tend to avoid spending more than 20 dollars on a pair of shoes.
I don’t fault my parents for this. They made do the best with what we had.
My shoes recently developed a series of fine cracks and holes. I’ve been doing a lot of walking lately and I’m quickly wearing through my cheap Wal-Mart shoes. So, I decide to head to Wal-Mart and pick up a pair. But, they don’t have any in my size. Note: I don’t mean that they didn’t have any I liked in my size. They literally did not have a single pair of shoes in my size.
My buddy Barry told me he had an old pair of Nike’s he doesn’t wear anymore. They’re in good shape and probably worth more than my last five pairs of shoes combined. I’m wearing them now and I can honestly say that I’ve never felt comfort around my feet like this. Even these ratty, five-year-old Nike’s feel better than every pair of shoes I’ve ever owned.
I feel like the Philosopher in Plato’s Cave Allegory. I’ve spent my life staring at a wall, trying to guess what shadows will be coming next. But, suddenly, someone releases me and takes me to the surface, where I find a pair of Nike’s. My life is forever changed, and I don’t think I can return to the Cave. If I do, I certainly won’t be able to participate in the game. That much is sure.
Maybe if you stopped trying to level-up your damn Pokemon by walking around with that stupid pedometer, your shoes would last longer.
Now, Phil, that’s just crazy talk. What’s the point of having a Pokewalker, if you aren’t going to level up Pokemon? The thought is just insane!