July 28, 2007

Size Thirteen Shoes

His feet weren't this large when he was born, thank the Good Lord, because his head about killed me as it was, but now with size thirteen feet I am hoping the 'growth spurt' is about done as far as his feet go.

We feel an almost sporting obligation to buy any reasonable looking shoes when we find 13 wide anywhere in the shelf. It's not that they don't make them, it's just that most stores apply principles of average sales and average sizes when they order for their racks. So, on those happy times when we find the right length paired with an acceptable width, shoes ride home with us. Sometimes I even belt them in like an honored guest. For the prices we pay, it just feels right.

So tonight when I acted on a tip from a really nice lady at church who suffers the same issues in buying shoes for her husband, I was able to bring home the bacon...or at least the shoeleather.
Not only were they the only white pair (we have a thing about white tennis shoes), they were actually the only size 13 wide shoes in the entire store.

Add to the unexpected joy of finding the shoes he needed, but they were also half-price as part of their back to school sales drive! Woo Hoo!!!

It was a little like winning a prize in a personal lottery.

While these little victories don't seem like a big deal for most people, I can assure you that once you surpass average in any way, day to day loses it's meaning in the mad shuffle for what works best for someone who just doesn't fit the average mold.

So celebrate finding the 'right' flavor of soup that rarely appears on the shelves. Dance in the aisle when you find that blaze orange underwear that you secretly wear to church. Jump for joy when you find not only the right size but when you actually save the money as well.

Enjoy and savor the moment.

Size thirteen moments.

You just can't find them all that often.

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