This story starts out a long time ago.
Like....1985ish....I was in 5th grade. It's possible that it took place the year before in 4th grade, but the more I've thought about it, I think it's 5th. The most popular kid in our class was Benji Zawacki (who after some internet searching I've found out now works for Amnesty International in Burma). Benji was cool...but he was always just a nice guy to everyone.So I'm pretty sure all the boys in our class played Biddy Basketball during the winter. Benji's dad was one of the coaches. Benji showed up with these black Nike's with gold swooshes. Everyone was in awe.
Now my brother and I never went without. There was always plenty of food to eat and we always had clothes etc. But my mom watched every penny and we never bought the highest fashion stuff either. We just knew that that was the way it was. So imagine my amazement when we found the exact same shoes in an odd discount store near where my grandparents live!
So I showed up at basketball practice and everyone thought I was wearing Benji's shoes...until he showed up. I was flying as high as a kite. It sure didn't make a better basketball player but I felt great that whole season because I had some great kicks.
For the record: My mom taught me well. I don't buy shoes for fashion. In fact I'm a cheapskate. I don't buy shoes that cost more than I think they should ask.
Enter my buddy J.J is a youth pastor here in town. Over the last two years he and I have done more and more stuff together with our youth groups. We spend a bunch of Monday mornings together as he watches his son and I have the boys. We chill.
J is addicted to shoes. I don't understand his addiction, but he doesn't understand my addiction to paintball guns. We commiserate in each others addictions.
To be fair, J is more than addicted. Even though he lives with me here in little old Warren he's actually pretty well known in the Nike Sneaker Blog world.....whatever that is.
So over the years J has talked to me about shoes. About 5 or 6 months ago J asked me if there was one pair of shoes that I wish I still owned. I couldn't think of anything immediately. The more I thought of it though, I could only think of one pair of shoes. The black Nike's with gold swooshes. I tried describing them to J but I was doing a bad job of it. So after some Google searches I found them and shared the pics with J. He knew right away what they were...Nike Vandals.
So fast forward to a couple weeks ago. J sends me the link of a guy on e-bay who has the re-release of the Air Vandals. They're almost identical except that instead of gold swooshes they have golden yellow swooshes. Here was the problem though: The guy had them as a Buy It Now for something like 70 dollars plus 16 in shipping. That's WAY more than I would normally pay for shoes that I use daily far less shoes that are just fun to wear around. So I start digging around on the same guys e-bay store. He has a pair just for auction! So I bid what I'm comfortable paying. I WIN! I paid 30 dollars including SHIPPING!
Behold my childhood revisited!
I DO NOT like the strap that is on the top of these. It came off almost immediately. I really like the way the original Vandals strap went with the shoe. I'd love to find a strap that is black, yellow and white...not sure if that exists....J?
I LOVE these shoes. They are super comfy. They are really really light weight because there's no leather at all....it's all Nylon sides. J has definitely not hooked me on buying shoes...I still don't understand his obsession, but I really love owning these shoes. Thanks Bro!