Old Is New

This weekend I walked past a hip little shoe store on Valencia Street in the Mission and saw several pairs of Dr. Scholl's in the window.

No shoe makes me think of my mom like these sandals.  I can remember the chunky clockety-clock sound that the wood soles made on the floor.  I remember her pairing them with '80s terrycloth jumpers.  And I remember how excited I was when I finally got my own pair, probably a little girl's size 5 or 6, with a red leather strap.

So that was one trip down Memory Lane.  Then another one hit me when I saw these sandals inside the store:

These are Saltwater Sandals, another type of shoe I had as a kid.  I hadn't seen or thought about them since I was probably 8 and I had no idea they made them for adults.

I kind of still like them.  But I foresee them becoming a staple of every Mission hipster's wardrobe in the near future, so it might be best to leave them in my past.  Plus, I don't own any onesies with which to pair them, and I'd like to keep it that way :)

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Today is the 19th anniversary of my mom's death.  It does and doesn't seem that long ago all at the same time.  I miss her and her Dr. Scholl's.  But I also know and feel that she's looking down at us from above and taking care of us.

10 Things: My Mom

May 14th is always a special day for me.  It was my mom's birthday.  So, to celebrate that...

10 Random Facts about My Mom

• Seems to be one of the only people in the world who could make nerd glasses look good.
• Was not a complainer.  I can't remember her complaining about much of anything, ever.
• Could belt out the Eagles' Takin' It Easy--especially when singing along to the radio in the car.
• Didn't get that mad when I projectile vomited in our Monte Carlo onto her and Aunt Barbara after having a soft-serve cone and too many spins on the merry-go-round.
• Let me do special things with just her--shopping trips for just the two of us, trips to Kansas...it made me feel special.
• Had beautiful hands.  I can remember her doing manicures at the kitchen table.  She actually took care of her cuticles!  {note to self: I should do that.}
• Liked cats and had a cat collection.  *shudder*  That affinity was not passed down to me.
• Was one of the bravest people I can think of.
• Always folded laundry in front of the TV so she could watch her soaps.
• Was into whole foods and healthy eating way before it was fashionable.  I bet she'd be all over the organic movement today.