SHOES, GLORIOUS SHOES

I love shoes. In Kindergarten my Gramma Mattson bought me 2 pair of school shoes. Saddle shoes (I hated them) and another navy that I loved.

I think part of the reason I love shoes so much is because they are loyal. I mean If my rear is a size 8, my shoes are 6-1/2 . If my rear is a 14, shoes, still 6-1/2. It's easy to buy shoes for me, not narrow, not wide, not hard to fit, no 6th toe.

I learned a few years ago, (and am still incorporating this into my life) that if you find a pair of shoes that you love, buy them. Then find the outfit to go with them later. If shoes fit and look good, you're all set. Kind of like good undies.

I like a bargain. I like to buy shoes on sale. J-man calls it cheap, but the hunt is worth it. I got married in a beautiful antiqued ecru lace tierd dress that I made. Lucky me, I found antiqued ecru lace shoes to go with it. They were even ON SALE. Ya know what I said as I paid the cashier the $3.12 ($2.99 plus tax)? "what is your return policy on sale shoes?" Did I really say that? They looked like they were made for the dress. I kept them. (No picture available)

So many shoes are made now in China, but shoes made in Brazil and France are the best.

I have a pair of ankle strap amethyst satin shoes that I got to go with a special ball gown. (They weren't $2.99) I think they look kinda sexy. Dawn calls them "hooker shoes". That's a little trashy for me. I like to think of them more as "baby, take-me-home-and-I'll-do-you-right-shoes".

DSW is a happy place. They have a rewards program. If you are ever there and they ask for your rewards card or number, just give them my home phone number. I'll thank you later. Well, they send coupons. I had one once, and it expired. Ratz. I hate when that happens. It's like free money. I vowed to never let one expire again. SOOO when I got another one, it was only for $10.00, but better my $10.00 than theirs, right? I walked in on expiration date, straight to the CLEARANCE ROOM, 6-1/2 rack and looked for the yellow or purple stickers (those are the ones with the best % off). Picked a pair, stuck my feet in them (of course using those not-really-hose) and knew they were mine. Proudly marched to the register, presented my coupon and the shoes and she kindly asked for FIFTY TWO CENTS. Now THATs my kind of deal. Green shoes, you'll see them below too. I wear them more often than I thought I would ever wear green shoes.

Sometimes no shoes is pretty darn good too, like when you're with your sister enjoying a fresh pedicure. :D

Make sure your shoes are comfey and smart. Check out the sales. Dress from the ground up. Find a good cobbler (that's old talk for shoe rapairman). If he's old with a couple warts and speaks broken English, he will be best, I think. Yes, I guess I am sterotyping. Get fresh heel plates so you don't go "click-click-click" when walking on tile. Clean them up nicely, tops and bottoms, in and outs.

If anyone thinks shoes never changed a girl's life never med Dorothy or Cinderella.

Lillian Ingabourg Jaakkola Mattson

That's a lotta long names for my

"Gramma Matt".

I love her.

She took me to Mackinac Island the summer I was 8. Here we are.... Great tennies, eh? and... Hey, Gramma, I love that hand bag. (Really, I do. I wish it was still around, I'd use it and be happy about it.)

If I'd had more kids I'd have named them Lilli and Jakk or Jaak. (not typo-s, pronounced yakolla, a Fin from the UP.) Guess I got the double consonent thing goin', nn, tt.

She was widowed in her early 30's with only 1 child, an adolescnet daughter (my mom), so when we grandkids came along, she was luuuuuvin' us up. She loved my dad too. She never re-married. That's a long time to be not married. I admire her for her integrity. She had that.

She died when I was only 10, but in those 10 years we got to know eachother quite well, and I don't feel jipped at all by losing her so young.

I think my mom looks much like her, and I like my mom. I miss them both. They were both fabulous Grammas. I'll see them again one day.

Ok, it’s Tuesday at LuLu’s and I’m all alone.

Two years ago “Olivia” told me there are 3 children around me. Yep, guess I don’t hide them well… that’s a good thing. And they make me sooo happy. Now there are 4. But they are NOT at LuLu’s. That makes me … uhmmmm, ok, I’ll say it, as selfish as it sounds… so sad.

When the Evans’ moved that was a change.

The timing was less painful, because about that time Marley started fearing me less… maybe even “liking” me. If it was all and only about LuLu, that would be great, but I love each of those kids, for any duration, combination and location, as long and as much as they will let me. I saw Nora every day.. she was a great neighbor. I miss her.

And now that I have met Smith, I miss him too.

TUESDAY THE WAY IT USED TO BE: Ky and Marley would arrive anywhere between 5:30 and 6:30pm. Dinner, usually Mac N Cheese, Mickey shaped chicken nuggets, chocolate milk, and/or what ever the heck else they wanted. They were at LuLu’s and they knew it was all about THEM! Guess we all felt like “it’s all about ME!!” and I think we’re right.

If there was something that HAD to be done, here were my choices: DON’T, or make it fun enough for Ky and Marley. If we were in the middle of doing one thing and an idea popped into Ky’s head, we’d stop, drop and shift.

If Marley wanted to (and she usually did want to)

watch Dora, of course Dora went on the DVD player.

A hat usually came in to play with Marley. We are alike that way: we love hats, and I think I am not lying

when I say we love each other.

Ky and I would do our thing in the TV room, or we’d run back and forth. Papa would arrive about 8:20 with Slurpees. One night he was running late. I hadn’t noticed, but the Slurpee alarm was sounding in Ky’s tummy or brain, or where ever the Slurpees hit. “Where’s Papa? Why’s he so late?” TaDah!!! The sound of the garage door

sent us all into a giddy, screechy, Slurpee dance. Up the stairs he’d appear, Ky was the first to take his part of Papa’s load. Mar toddled over with hands out (kind-a Frankenstein-esque style), grabbed the goods and gave the obligatory hug and cheek lend. Goofey, how Slurpees are even treats in December. Parents would arrive and bring us all back to reality. Jammies, prayer and a ride home to bed.

Many things they would say, do, put on, would be enough to make me laugh all week. Actually, I still laugh about things they did several weeks ago, and even longer ago.

Today at LuLu’s, fun? Not so much.

Memories of Tuesday’s at LuLu’s? PRICELESS