(no subject)
During my first year of uni, I fell in love. Every single day for the whole year, I'd walk passed Raben Footwear and look in the window at the coolest shoes I have ever seen. They were a pair of 5-eye ankle-length Doc Martens boots, in red velvet. With a price tag of over $200, which there was no chance I could afford, so I contented myself with looking. For awhile. It got a bit extreme, I think, when I had to run down to Raben between classes to look at those red velvet boots. I dreamed about them. I knew if I just owned those boots I would be the coolest, happiest person in the world.
And finally, after a long year of yearning, my fiance finally decided to fork out the $200, buy me the boots and hope I would just shut the hell up. I remember wearing them home with a massive grin on my face, and his mother tutting at me in disgust. "I can't believe you spent so much on those shoes!"
I promised her I would get my money's worth. I promised that I would wear them every day, until they died. And I have been striving to keep that promise. There are certain people who might suspect I have already well and truly surpassed it, and have continued wearing the shoes beyond their death. Eight years I've had these shoes now. The velvet has cracked around the heel and the toes. At first certain critical people told me that I had been ripped off. I shrugged and said, "They just look more punk now. They're only getting cooler".
Then the leather started to split a little across the top and side of the foot. And when I say a little, I presume that it started that way at first. Now there are quite large holes across the tops of both shoes. And the heels are starting to develop holes too. My socks are quite clearly visible. If I lack foresight and wear my Docs when it's raining, I can actually feel puddles inside them. People criticise my Docs all the time, you know, but I don't actually listen to them because I'm pretty sure they're still the coolest shoes I've ever seen. They're comfy and they love me. When James' dad first noticed them a few weeks ago, he told me with some concern that they might need replacing soon. I like how he didn't say "three years ago". I agreed with him that, for now, they're still good.
That said ... I think I would like a new pair. It would be nice if they weren't broken. I've been searching, and James has been searching, and we seem to have come across a distinct lack of red velvet Docs. So, I'm putting it out to everyone - please, this is a fantastic cause - please help with the Red Velvet Docs Appeal. (It's like the Red Shield Appeal, only you don't have to pay for the shoes, you just have to find them - although if you do wish to donate any money I might forward it to the Red Shield Appeal)
These are similar to my Docs (Mine are a slightly older style, but I'm not too fussy about finding an exact match). I've found them in a couple of places, but, alas, not in my size. I need a UK 5 (US 7). I suspect I may be happy with blue or black ones as well, so please please PLEASE if you see any in my size, let me know where so I can buy them!
