Vibram FivefingerToe Shoes-Just When We Thought Nothing New Could Be Discovered
Posted: Saturday, February 21, 2009
by Sandra E. Graham
My Books and Articles
My granddaughter's fifteenth birthday is coming up in a few days, so I thought a day of shopping and grandmother/granddaughter bonding would be just the ticket for this fine Saturday morning. As I started the van, I asked her, "Ok. This is your day; where to?"
"GearHead." She responded without hesitation. Since before Christmas she had been talking about a particular pair of shoes that were to die for!'-in a direct quote. I had spent several days running here and there to different stores trying to help her find them for Christmas but with no luck. Everyone was sold out. Now these must be some really special shoes, I thought, as they could not be kept in stock at any of the major stores.
For someone who spends her shoe money at Walmart-and occasionally splurges at Shoe Carnival-it was hard for me to phantom a pair of shoes being so illusive. And even more so, someone being so set on one type of shoe when varieties are astronomical. I have never had a problem finding at least one pair of shoes in any given store with which I couldn't be satisfied. But that's just me and this is a young girl with her own illusion of what is in' and what is not'. There can be eons between the attire tastes of a grandmother and a teenager.
She had called GearHead and, yes, they just so happened to now have various styles and colors of the Vibram Fivefinger in stock. So, off we go to Jonesboro to visit the new Turtle Creek Mall and find just the right pair of $80-plus shoes that apparently have individual compartments for the five individual appendages of each foot-will wonders never cease! Here is a pic of what I purchased just in case you're like me and are stupefied by this phenomenon of scientific endeavor:
Well, we found the shoes; she found just the right style; then found just the perfect color and spent forty-five minutes getting them on her feet. She will now be getting up an hour earlier just to get her shoes on before going to school!!! All this and for the mere cost of $80.00 plus tax. The world has certainly changed since my mother took me shopping for school shoes. My granddaughter says they're very comfortable-for that I will take her word. I must say they do look like they would be great for rock-climbing or-tree climbing? They say they are like walking barefoot with protection. They exercise more muscles in the feet than regular hard-sole shoes; which makes sense. Maybe looks don't mean everything?
Science is a wonderful thing and I am always fascinated by each new invention, but with this particular product I think I'll stick with my slip-on flip-flops or Velcro tenny's, thank you very much, and leave the indelible Fivefinger Vibram to the more flexible athletic types.
"GearHead." She responded without hesitation. Since before Christmas she had been talking about a particular pair of shoes that were to die for!'-in a direct quote. I had spent several days running here and there to different stores trying to help her find them for Christmas but with no luck. Everyone was sold out. Now these must be some really special shoes, I thought, as they could not be kept in stock at any of the major stores.
She had called GearHead and, yes, they just so happened to now have various styles and colors of the Vibram Fivefinger in stock. So, off we go to Jonesboro to visit the new Turtle Creek Mall and find just the right pair of $80-plus shoes that apparently have individual compartments for the five individual appendages of each foot-will wonders never cease! Here is a pic of what I purchased just in case you're like me and are stupefied by this phenomenon of scientific endeavor:
Well, we found the shoes; she found just the right style; then found just the perfect color and spent forty-five minutes getting them on her feet. She will now be getting up an hour earlier just to get her shoes on before going to school!!! All this and for the mere cost of $80.00 plus tax. The world has certainly changed since my mother took me shopping for school shoes. My granddaughter says they're very comfortable-for that I will take her word. I must say they do look like they would be great for rock-climbing or-tree climbing? They say they are like walking barefoot with protection. They exercise more muscles in the feet than regular hard-sole shoes; which makes sense. Maybe looks don't mean everything?
Science is a wonderful thing and I am always fascinated by each new invention, but with this particular product I think I'll stick with my slip-on flip-flops or Velcro tenny's, thank you very much, and leave the indelible Fivefinger Vibram to the more flexible athletic types.
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Sandra E. Graham, author, AMOS JAKEY and NICOLINA published by American Book Publishing. Sandra loves to write about people and if you enjoy reading about people, you will love these books. Her first two novels are historical/adventure/fiction of early 1900's America. Sandra also writes book reviews for authors through Book Pleasures (no charge for reviews). Visit her website for more information on her books that are in print now and reviews she has written.
http://www.sandragraham-articles-books.com
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More commentsSandra, hahahaahahahahahaahahaha this is hilarious, and I'm still laughing....I honestly think you should get a pair, to give you that extra traction we all need, especially in Arkansas!! What with the slippery ice and snow...they're absolutely perfect for that!! hahahhahahaha, I started laughing the minute I saw the pictures. I'm with you on this one...now way would you find something like that on this cowboy's feet. There is no way - Jose!! Teens still have those "fad" styles going on, when I was a teen...many moons ago, I wore the highwater jeans, white socks, Duck style hairdo, witha white T-Shirt, and of course I had to have the trademark pack of " Lucky Strikes" rolled up in my sleeve....what was up with that? At any rate, have you ever see those socks that girls wear that have a separate digit for each toe, and they are usually multi-colored, now that is also funny....My wife has a pair of those although she doesn't wear them anymore....funny stuff....you had me laughing on this one....the one good thing I always need.....thanks for sharing this....your fan and friend in pen, Gary......Thanks, Gary. I always enjoy making you laugh. Yes, that is another thing my granddaughter wears are the bright colored digit-socks. I can't imagine taking that much time to get dressed--now she'll probably wear the toe-socks in the toe-shoes!Have a great day.Sandra
Sandra, I loved this article. It brought back memories of very early childhood.Mom took me shopping for shoes. The style was "saddle shoes". I wanted blue. I remember throwing a tantrum. I never got my blue saddle shoes. Mom brought brown. I remember refusing to wear them. It did not take long for my feet to out grow them. We both lost that fight.Even as a teen we were still fighting over colors. I'm a cool, green, blue, purple person. Mom thought pink, oranges and tans.She is long gone and only in the past three years have I bought pink and tans. No orange yet.Those shoes are uuuuugly.. That is past ugly.Thanks, Patricia. I have to admit, (but not to my granddaughter) they are ugly. But like Gary said above, they have got to be good for rock-climbing or 'Arkansas clod hopping'! Ha.Thanks for reading and commenting.Sandra
Great article--I am fairly young and I also think those shoes look silly, so it isnt just you!Thanks for reading and commenting.Welcome to Searchwarp.Sandra
Oh the hardships teens must bear these days. When my grandson stayed with me he had to have certain pants, that cost a fortune and didn't seem to want to stay up when grandma wasn't looking. Enjoyed your article. Appreciate your humor.Linda DThanks, Linda. Glad you enjoyed it. Those kids sure know what they want, when they want it!Sandra
Hi Sandra, I have to agree this is a bit unusual. I first thouhg of the saying "What hath God wrought?" but that didn't seem to fit right (no pun intended)Thanks, Joel. I was a bit flabbergasted myself when I first saw these things. But you know kids--the more unusual, the better they like them.Sandra
Oh my goodness, Sandra. I had never heard of these things before. It isn't something I'd want to wear, but if the kids like them, why not? But at that price, they better be able to hover and transport the wearer to her next class!Thanks for the info. Thanks for reading and commenting. They are way over-priced, but I'm sure as the fad deminishing, they will come down--but not before they make millions off them.Thanks for reading and commenting.Sandra
Great article Sandra and they are ugly. Someday your granddaughter will look back at these shoes and also think they are ugly. Actually, with this generation, it may take only about 3 months!NancyAs they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I don't think they will last long, either, but who knows--only the kids.Thanks, Nancy, for reading and commenting.Sandra
HA! Great story, I go through this with my daughter. I own 3 pairs of shoes; black-everday dress boots, a pair of beige sandals that go with everything; and one pair of heels. I am obviously not the normal gal either, so I am with you. thanks for the smile.Hey, Teresa. Well, I have to admit that I do have a few shoes in my closet--mostly I've had for years. I no longer wear heels--anything over 1/2 inch and I'd lose my balance. ha. When I was young and working, I wore 3 inch heels all day, every day--now I can't imagine how I ever did that! Shoes and clothes were important to me many years ago. Not any more. Priorities certainly change and it is the same with teens. This fad will pass--along with hip-huggers and bell-bottoms. Oops, I think those came back, didn't they?Have a good week.Sandra
Lord, I laughed until I cried! Sensational! Thank for this wonderful look at daily life and the humor it offers to the open eye.Thank you, Walter. I love to make people laugh. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for reading and commenting.Sandra
Ohmygosh! So funny! I can just see myself there is about 13 more years! Loved the picture. I just had to see what made these shoes all that. I'm saving this article to read sometime down the road!
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