Finally bought walking shoes

My quandary is this. No shoe ever seems to fit. They feel too loose, or too tight, or too something. I think it's because I'm just not used to wearing "real" shoes. I wear Birks 80% of the time. If I put on a closed shoe, I wear it to the office and 9 out of 10 times I kick them off. Bottom line is I don't know how to tell if my shoes fit.

It happened again Friday when I went to try on the Finn Casuals. Again. They felt too loose at the heel. They put in pads, they felt better, but still my heel was lifting. The clerk said your heel should give a little. I was still unsure about the fit and even left the store. Ultimately I came back and bought them. At some point I had to stop trying on shoes and buy a pair. It was decision time. You can tell nothing walking back and forth at a store.

So I decided to buy the most expensive walking shoe on the market. German, hand sewed, repairable, with cork inter soles like my Birks. They are an investment. As I plunked down my debit card I knew this was going to be great, or a really expensive mistake. Wouldn't be the first one.

I was going to wear them that night on my 1-hour faster walk with Betsy. It rained. Then, I was going to wear them the first loop on Saturday. It rained more. So finally on Sunday I cheated on my Birks and wore the Finn Casuals. I have the heel blisters to prove it. I walked 4 miles. Maybe that was too far. Maybe those pads were a bad idea. I'm calling the shoe store today.

I will try them at least two more times before I give up on them for distance walking. I'll give them some time before I give up on the forever. They fit Bonnie well, so she might get some hand-me-downs. I won't be wearing them for either the three-day or the Avon. It's too risky.

I really think I need sneakers for the Philly Marathon. I can't walk a 16 minute miles in sandals. The New Balance 8550 were my second choice. If I go to the New Balance store and try them I'll get a discount. Bonnie found some Nike's that are wide in the front and narrow in the back. Maybe I should try them on too.

Or maybe I should stop distance walking. Life was simpler as a couch potato. I'm disappointed. I had high hopes. I will take some time to wallow and then move forward.

But then I received this email. One of those moments when you think fate is stepping in...
"Ah, the blisters of a new pair of shoes.....it's good luck. Like when you get hit with bird shit. My dad always said it was a special blessing and to thank the bird. So thanks new sneakers!"