Bringing the Dream to Life

Those of you who know me, or have had a conversation with me in the last six months, or who have looked at a photo of me in the past six months know that I have a dream. Some people dream of changing the world, of leaving their own undeniable mark so that when they flee this mortal plane the world will stop and say "Dang, _____ sure did make a difference in the field of _____".

I am not one of these people. Oh sure... I suppose it would be nice to be remembered something that I did, but I also know that I would most likely screw it up somehow and wind up being hatefully remembered for all eternity... the way despots, iron fisted rulers, and Fred Rogers are.

No. I'm quite content to live a life of quiet satisfaction in which I know that I have made myself and those I love happy.

But that doesn't mean I don't have dreams. As I said earlier, this has been a dream that I have had for the past six months or so... but I suppose on another level... this is a dream I've had all my life.

The dream? To own a pair of boat shoes.

Go on... let that one simmer out there for minute or so. I'll wait. Have you picked your jaws up off of the floor? Good. Let's continue.

Some people would say that owning a pair of boat shoes is a pretty stupid dream. To those people I say "screw you". I don't come into your house and tell you that your dream of being a home maker, or a CEO, or writing a novel is stupid. It's impolite, and I won't abide it.

That being said... why boat shoes? I... don't know really. I think part of it is that I've always had my own special swagger, that is often in direct conflict to what rational society deems fashionable. Also, I've always cared more about being comfortable than looking good... so when I found out that there was a pair of shoes in existence that I could wear without socks in any weather with jeans, pants, or shorts, and that are appropriate for parties on both yacht and land... I said to myself: "Self...I want to adopt that as a core part of my swagger"

Note for those of you unsure as to what I mean by swagger: swagger is essentially a man's (or woman's) own personal style. It's what sets you apart from the common man (or woman). My swagger is different than yours, and yours is probably different from everyone else. Unless you want a pair of Burberry pants. That just makes you awesome.

So... if the boat shoe has been a dream of mine for this long... why haven't I made the dream a reality until (presumably) now? I'm glad you asked. There are several reasons:

1. My wife thinks boat shoes are ugly. This needs no further explanation.
2. Them bad boys is expensive. I can't spend $70 plus dollars for a piece of clothing that no one except for me and the boating elite find fashionable.
3. My mind wasn't prepared for the boundless joy inherent within a pair of crispy fresh boat shoes.

So... for these reasons and many other too complex to go into in the space I've allowed myself. I resigned myself to the idea that I would never get to party on a yacht (which, for those of you paying attention, will know that I plan to name "pimpin' the most") until this past weekend.

There I was, in the shoe section of the Ross Dress for Less when I saw them. I knew as soon as I saw them that I had to make them mine. As I tried them on, it was like a short trip to foot heaven. The joy my feet experienced quickly traveled to my mind, when I saw that they were only 20 dollars!!!

Look at them... aren't they majestic?

At last, my dream has become a concrete fact!!! I can cross another item off of my bucket list. Now I just need to work on getting a monocle, cravat, and pimp cane...

Ya'll stay classy... wherever ya'll is...

Blakely A-dam Sumner