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New Shoes, New In-Laws, New Year; It's All Good

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By Derek Maul

Published: January 10, 2007

Brandon, FL - Brandon, FL - I may enjoy long walks with my wife's dog, but pounding the pavement is beginning to take its toll in shoes. Two 45-minute outings daily plus any number of half-mile hikes equals 40 to 50 miles per week. I haven't worn down heels and soles at this rate since I hiked that 500-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail.

So I took some of my holiday gift money and bought a pair of fancy Rockport walkers. I'd already caught a boatload of grief from my son in response to the beige "old guy" cardigan sweater my parents gave me for Christmas. So I guessed what was coming. I know how his mind works and buying "senior shoes" was going to be just one more nail in my coffin as a cool parent. So be it.

"Only retired people wear those," he said. "Then they 'power walk' around the mall. Why don't you just go put on your cardigan sweater and while you're at it reserve your place at Sun City. Then you could drive a golf cart to the mail box and start going to bed at nine o'clock."

He's a very amusing recent college graduate. But I've got to tell you my new walking shoes are sweet. Seriously expensive but less than $20 at one of those places where you can "shop for less." I honestly can't fathom why anyone ever knowingly pays full price. But some of us evidently still enjoy dropping the big bucks.

I remember sneaker shopping with the children during the middle school years.

"There's a $50 limit," I said, feeling generous. "Finding something you like should be easy."

Two hours and maybe 10 shoe stores later and one teen was still complaining about the lack of selection. "Daddy, your budget is unfair. There's nothing at the mall for less than 50 bucks."

Of course I considered that a challenge. "I bet I can find something I like in 10 minutes and I'll spend less than $40," I said.

Sure enough I had a great pair of cross-trainers in a bag with three minutes to spare. The cost was $30.

"What about my shoes?" the eighth-grader asked.

"Fine," I said. "I'll drive round the parking lot while you make up your mind. Meet you at the main entrance in 30 minutes." After all a budget is a budget, so I handed over the remaining $20. Evidently there was even less available for such a sum. But I knew for a fact there were still good deals to be had. So while I drove my teen home without school shoes I was entirely guilt free.

I'm happy to report that today, finding themselves forced to spend their own money, it's amazing how many great deals our children have learned to sniff out.

In other news, this past week my wife and I floated into 2007 on the back seat of a pontoon boat out on the natural lake behind the Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World.

The occasion was our version of "meet the parents" prior to our daughter's summer nuptials.

Naomi's fiancé, Craig, arranged for dinner at the Contemporary so all the in-laws could chew steak and sip iced-tea while sizing one another up across the safety of a large table.

I'm here to report we all survived the evening and our children still plan on a June wedding. I'm honestly not sure if either of Craig's parents are any the wiser regarding who these strange people are who write and preach for a living, or how a quiet Englishster found a vivacious American and settled down in Tampa of all places. But they did return to Connecticut without retaining legal counsel and they haven't blocked my e-mail. So all must be well.

After dinner we boarded the boat, and if we'd been searching for the ideal place to view the fireworks we couldn't have done better. I kissed in the New Year with the woman of my dreams in the clear cool air of a perfect Florida night while our daughter welcomed 2007 with the man who obviously makes her so very happy.

All that plus cheap shoes. Don't you just know it's going to be a great year?

Derek Maul is a writer who lives in Valrico. You can reach him at derekmaul@gmail.com.

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