When T went shopping for 96 pairs of shoes

The 15th of July, just this past Thursday, was the sixth-month/half-year mark of my year of no (new) shoes. On Saturday, my mom and I walked by a stall selling espadrilles and she asked if I was interested in getting a pair because she knew of a place that sold them at quite an affordable price. “Mom!?!” I exclaimed incredulously, “I can’t buy any new shoes!” “Ay, oo nga pala, I forgot.”

It hasn’t been difficult to shun shoes since I spent most of this half-year at school, away from enticing shops and window displays. And although I wouldn’t mind a new pair of shoes every now and then, it really isn’t that hard to refuse them. I feel like the idea of a year off of shoes is more hard for one to imagine, but so much easier to do.

Not to say that I haven’t been tempted, because I have, what with all the beautiful shoes I’ve seen around D.C., New York, and Boston over my summer travels. Now I’m back in Manila where the temptation is even greater because the selection of shoes is substantially cheaper than the shoes available in the US (and my mom has been offering me shoes!).

In early June, I had sat in a Steve Madden store (my favorite!) in Georgetown as my roommate searched for a new pair of flats. I didn’t even dare try on a pair of anything. An encouraging text from my friend Sarah made me smile: “You can do it!” I remember her saying, “No matter what happens, DON’T BUY SHOES!!!” Good thing I couldn’t afford any of the shoes in the store!

Last Tuesday, mom and I went on our weekly shopping trip to Divisoria (read: shopping deal heaven) for the children’s fairs. At the end of the day, we went to Carriedo and gave into pure shoe temptation by buying 96 pairs of shoes! My shoe fasting when out the window – I’ve broken it completely by buying 96 pairs of shoes all for meeeee!!!!  My shoe closet is now the color of the rainbow and every shade in between.

Happy sigh.

my feet, photograph by Dalia Sapoznikow

JUST KIDDING!

While planning this year’s children’s fair, I was inspired by my temporary break up with new shoes. Since this July is the fifth annual fair, I wanted to do something extra special and personal. So on Saturday, as the children leave the fair to go home, in their bucket of presents they’ll each find a new pair of sneakers! In our living room are so many cute pairs of sneakers, re-packed by my mom in fresh, shiny plastic bags. They wait for me to put each child’s name in before they are tied up and packed for the happily approaching Buhay Makulay Children’s Fair!

Yay for shoes!