Just Call Me “Boots”

It’s been almost one year since I purchased them. Jamie and I were in Houston, TX visiting our family for Christmas. I had been wanting some for awhile, but I hadn’t really seen any I truly loved…. or could afford.

Cowboy boots.

It just so happened we were in a mall in Katy one day when we found a Wild West Warehouse that was going out of business and having an amazing sale. I didn’t really expect to find any boots, but we figured it’d be worth a peek, at least. I began wandering the aisles and after sizing up the mostly-empty shelves, I was pretty certain I wouldn’t find what I was looking for. But then, I saw them. Red cowboy boots with turquoise suede lining and white trim. I rushed over, thinking there was NO way I’d be lucky enough for them to be my size. But they were a perfect fit. And the only ones like them in the whole store. Then after I saw how much on sale they were, I knew they were basically made for my feet.

Now, usually when I make semi-impulse purchases, I’ll wear or use whatever it is for a few weeks, maybe months, but then I get kind of tired of it and tuck it into a drawer somewhere and forget about it. But not these boots. I wear them all the time, even if they don’t really match my outfit. I LOVE them. And it was funny, because I noticed that the more I wore them, the more they got noticed in public. I can’t tell you how many complete strangers have stopped me on the street to compliment me on my boots and ask where I got them. And then I wore them in the main photographs that are on my social networking profiles and website, and…. I kind of became KNOWN for them.

I’ve never really had a “signature” look. Frankly, I’m usually all over the place style-wise, and I’ve been through some pretty tragic fashion phases. I’ve always wished I could have some effortlessly sophisticated piece that I would wear again and again, like Audrey Hepburn’s big sunglasses or Diane von Furstenberg’s wrap dresses. So I think I may have found my “thing.” Not that these boots are effortlessly sophisticated or anything… but then, neither am I. I’m colorful, but a little rough around the edges. Kind of stylish, but well-worn and comfortable. So they fit me pretty perfectly.

Two recent things have helped confirm this for me:

For one, back in October, Megan Betty and I went to a reading by David Sedaris. Oh my goodness, how I love this man. Such a brilliant and hysterical writer. Anyway, Megan and I just happened to both bring books with us just in case we might get an opportunity to meet him and get his autograph. I really didn’t expect this to happen at all, especially after we saw how packed the theater was. Well, at the end of his reading, he announced that he would be at a table in the lobby and would sign every single person’s book who wanted him to sign it. I admit, we squealed a bit. Maybe a lot. So we got in line and waited and waited and waited… for like, an hour or something. When it was finally our turn, we walked up and the first thing David said was, “If we were friends, could I call you “Boots”? I mean, would you mind that?” (I probably should have mentioned that I was wearing the red boots.) And I was all, seriously? If we were friends, you could call me whatever the heck you wanted! So we chatted for a bit, trading bizarre customer service stories, and he signed our books. As we walked away, I opened mine up and saw this:

Wow. I mean, these darn boots made me stand out, and prompted him, DAVID SEDARIS, to give me a nickname! Megan and I were practically skipping all the way to the car. Not that I’ve ever done drugs to be able to have a point of comparison, but I imagine this feeling would easily surpass anything like that.

Then, a few days ago, I came home to find a package on my doorstep. I wasn’t expecting anything from anyone, so I was a little confused. When I opened it up, I again let out a little squeal, because I saw these:

You might remember Heather Baird, owner of Sprinkle Bakes. I shot her yummies back in October when we were in Tennessee visiting. She was sweet enough to make me these adorable cookies for Christmas. Seriously, could she be any more talented? I think not. And she’s becoming quite the product photographer too! Makes my heart proud. :) I’m glad I had the sense to shoot these before Jamie started digging in.

So, there you have it. The boots are pretty famous now. And I love them more than ever. I’m actually kind of sad that the Wild West Warehouse won’t be there when we go back to Houston this week….