When I was a little girl, I went with my mom by bus to downtown Chicago when she needed a new pair of shoes. She always went to the same store – Joseph’s – and usually came out of that store carrying several boxes of shoes tied together so she could carry them easier. One afternoon when I was old enough to voice my opinion, I begged her to buy a pair that I literally had fallen in love with. They were navy-blue suede with sling back high heels, little cutouts on the top and narrow ties meant to go around her ankles several times. My mom usual wore simple pump-like styles so these suede shoes would be a big departure from those. But she said she didn’t plan to buy them. They were too extreme for her. Well, I had a crying fit. I was determined not to let her go out of Joseph’s without the suede shoes tied to her package. And the crying worked. The more I cried the more she backed down until she bought and carried the fancy ankle strapped suede shoes home too. And wouldn’t you … [Read more...]