The Kindness of Strangers

I was feeling a little down this morning so armed with a $20 coupon, I make my way to the DSW Shoe Warehouse.  I am certain that a scientific poll would reveal that shoe shopping is a universally satisfying experience.  You see, the nice thing about shoes is they don’t make your butt look big; rarely, if ever, do you find that you’ve gone up a size; a decent pair of shoes can still be purchased for a fair price; and in places like DSW you don’t have to be bothered with pesky salespeople.  Quality help is there when you need it, but it’s not intrusive.  You can spend as much time as you want in DSW, try on as many shoes as you like and you don’t have to take off any of your clothes. 

After trying on a few pair of randomly selected styles, a lady with a Russian accent approaches me extends her foot and asked which shoe I like better.  Well, never one to shrink from giving my opinion, I study both her feet and give my informed opinion.  Her shoes are the same style, but one is tan and one is silver.  I choose the tan, it’s more practical and the silver has a little too much of a “Senior Prom” vibe. I go on to say that the tan shoe is good for work and could pass for dressy.  The silver shoe has limits.  She listened intently and agrees.  I ask you, where else can you go where you opinion is sought after and valued?  My new friend gives me a smile, a thank you and is on her way.    

The giving advice stage and carefree browsing gives way to phase two -- serious shoe consideration.  I decide to pursue casual, comfortable, flip floppy-type shoes with some good arch support.  I just joined a pool and I want something to wear there that resists water damage.  Mind you, I have my “ in-the-pool” shoes in case I decide to take water aerobics, the shoes I’m searching for  are “go-to-the-pool” shoes.  

I began pulling boxes – Sketchers, Tevas, Bare Trapps, Merrills and settle down for some trying on.  (My initial try-ons were merely warm up exercises.)  I like to perch on one of those stools with the mirror attached, get comfortable and spread out.  For some reason I’ve worn socks, I quickly remove them, stuff them in my purse and hunker down.  The Bare Trapps and Sketchers are a no-go, the Tevas and Merrills are put aside for further study. 

I run through a series of poses in front of the little mirror (the advantage to this mirror is that I can only see my feet and ankles, no backside).  Do they make my foot look wide?  Are my toes and heels snugly cradled?  Is my pinky toe compromised in anyway?  How about the little fabric “thingy” between my toes, is it soft, not scratchy?  So far the Tevas are leading in the comfort department and I find the Merrills to be a tad too narrow.  I shelve the rejects just as a fellow shopper leans in to tell me a sock has fallen from purse.  I’m grateful to her because, they are my favorite socks.  You just can’t equal the kindness of women shoe shoppers.

As I examine my shoes (and notice that my 3 week old pedicure is showing some wear) I realize my purse, old shoes and a discarded shoe box are blocking the aisle.  I jump up and apologize to a lady trying to squeeze by me while balancing 4 boxes.  She assures me I’m okay and takes the opportunity to ask how I like her shoes.  I like them, I even like the shoes she owns (she said she bought them here last week). We discuss the pros and cons of black soles vs. white (too “sneaker like’) before she moves on to find her own little seat with a mirror.  Ever notice how women bond so quickly when engaged in retail therapy?  We have no qualms about asking for advice or listening intently to a total stranger’s opinion.  I like that about women.

I look up and see my Russian lady, she holds up the tan shoes and gives me a thumbs up.  Gee, maybe I should ask her to go for coffee?   I move on to look at more dressy sandals, clutching the Tevas under my arm.  I mean I’m here and I’m already going to save $20 on a pair of shoes; might as well look at some cute “go-to dinner-and-a-movie” shoes.  I soon find a pair of cute comfy leather sandals.  Hmm, size 8 is too snug, size 9 too roomy, and they don’t have any more half sizes.  I scribble down the maker of the shoe -- Eddie Bauer (I thought they went out of business?) -- and vow to check “Zappos” or “6 PM’ when I get home.  Didn’t I overhear a woman ask if they had additional sizes on DSW’s web site?  DSW has a web site?  I store that away for future use.  (Note: found the 8.5 on the DSW web site…)

I’ve been here well over an hour, but I’ve got some time before I have to make a meeting of the neighborhood Landscaping Committee.  I head toward the purse and wallet section, then think better of it.  Wallets are best purchased at the Fossil and Coach outlets, I’ll check on that later when I go to the beach.  As I head to the check out I see that business is brisk, but there are lots of cashiers and the line moves along.  A nice sales lady thanks me for waiting, in turn I thank her for sending me a $20 coupon.  We laugh and exchange big smiles (see, there’s that “girl-bonding” thing again!) 

I’m out of the store with enough time to stop for a cup of coffee.  No Starbucks in this shopping center, I’d have to cross 3 lanes of traffic, so I try the Quartermaine’s, Coffee Roasters founded in Rockville, Maryland in 1991 by the original founders of Starbucks.   (I didn’t know that, I read it on the door as I enter).  Yum!  The coffee is excellent, strong and dark just how I like it and a “fixin” bar with whole milk, cinnamon, a variety of sweeteners and tightly fitting lids.  I’m putting Quatermaine's on my regular route, there are not enough to replace Starbucks, but definitely worth a trip. 

But, I digress; I started out making a case for shoe shopping as therapy and now I’m blabbing about coffee.  Maybe shoes and coffee and the kindness of strangers make for good therapy.  I’m just saying…