Footie!

While going through old photos, A1 spotted A2's first day of school picture and exclaimed to me, "You made her wear this shoe with this dress, Amma?"! Thankfully, she didn't go too much further with the photos or she would've found out that I had dressed her up the exact same way on her first day of school!!!

Eons back I was also footwear fashion conscious micro-mini Imelda Marcos of my time with half a dozen pairs of variety footwear, each one for a different purpose(A buckled one for running & catching( a bus!), a hawaii chappal for around the corner(potti) shops, rubber ones for wading thro' the monsoon rainwater, slip-on for a bandha look, a regular one for the traditional outfits etc etc.).

The roadside shops of Pondy bazaar/Ranganathan st. used to be a favourite haunt. The cheaper ones worked for me as it wouldn't last long so I can go get another pair! Though a customary trip to the cobbler for mending the shoes step was done first. Are there cobblers anymore in Chennai? They have been saviours many a time! Their skill have always been a fascinating sight. At times I've felt tempted to try my hand at it too!

Inspite of all the varieties, I had never worn/owned a pair of sneakers before coming here. So, my first purchase of a sports shoe was a big deal and walking in it felt like Neil Armstrong's moon walk! Though after the initial honeymoon, the lace tying became a big nuisance(especially for a person like me who is always running late, rushing out the door)! Until a friend taught me the trick to use the shoes like a slip-on with the lace tied!

With all these varieties for different seasons like flip flops, sandals, slip ons, sneakers, boots, A2 is always so confused at the time of going out as to which pair she should be wearing. One day when I cautioned her against running on the sloped cement driveway, she said, "don't worry, Amma! I am only wearing my running shoes!"

Inspite of learning it the hard way many times that ordering shoes and clothes online is not a good idea, I still get tempted and succumb! But with kids so choosy("ellaam onna maadhiriye" everyone conveniently points the finger at me!), browsing and ordering stuff on the internet seemed better than wading thro' the stores and malls in the busy holiday season. In a latest case. saving a trip and pe... er.. gas didn't happen as we got shoes each leg different size!!