First Day of Shoes

The first day of spring be damned. Today was a much better day--the first day of shoes! Yes, much of the snow was washed away from the sidewalks this weekend by a light rain, and temperatures have consistently been just above freezing for three days straight now, and so today was that miraculous day when it was finally safe--and sane--to wear real shoes instead of boots for the first time in a couple of months. Actually, I don't wear boots per se, I wear Clark's "Muckers", made in England, short-cut like shoes, but water-proof, and surprising warm, although perhaps not that surprising given how cold it can get in England on rainy days. Today I got to dust off--and I do mean dust off quite literally!--my good ol' Doc Martens (gee, I seem to have a thing for English shoes!) and break them in again, complete with that little spot that rubs against the back of my heel but which is nonetheless a welcome pain to bear in exchange for clear, ice-free, snow-free, and relatively slush-free sidewalks. Here in CanuckLand, it's got nothing to do with groundhogs, spring solstice, or the switch to daylight savings time (as much as that too was very much a welcome relief this weekend). Nope, what truly signals the beginning of spring and instills hope and pride at surviving yet another long, cold winter is wearing shoes again. I can't wait til tomorrow morning to dust off my sneakers too!