Shoe Love, Annie...and Eggs

Last night, Corb and I were walking through the local Mall. We were looking to use up all the gift certificates that I had collected during Christmas. It's sort of a modern day variation of Bingo, I suppose.

He suddenly stopped to stare down at his new sneakers. "I think I love my new shoes," he said, contentedly.

I personally thought he was a little out of his head, but I kept my thoughts to myself. However, it's possible that his newfound shoe love rubbed off on me, just a little bit, because it got me to thinking (and not in a good way) about the two pairs of shoes that I typically wear to work. One pair has been worn so much that it had forced me to fall back on a pair of penny loafers my grandmother bought me years ago. And as Corb is fond of saying, "There's a reason that penny loafers went out of style. Years ago."

So, after picking up two new pairs of pants and two new shirts, we trekked over to a shoe store, and I bought myself a brand new pair of shoes.

And I have to admit, I am now experiencing a bit of shoe love, myself. I like the way they feel, I like the way my feet fit into them, I like the leather smell they have when I take them off. They are a bit squarish, I will confess, and I'm having trouble adjusting to that. That seems to be the style nowadays, but I have to admit, I think if I stuck a big old buckle on the front, I'd fit right in with the Pilgrims.

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Ashes likes it when I type on the computer, while she's falling asleep. I think she finds it soothing.

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But the big news occurred when I went to pick Corb up from work. Annie was working the front desk, and she was whispering with Corb as I entered.

"Guess who's staying here tonight?" Corb asked-announced, as I reached the check-in area.

"Not Sadaam Hussein," I replied.

"My biological father," said Annie, grimly.
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Josie and I called Annie, driving home from Ashes' therapist.

Josie fumbled around with my cell phone, as Annie waited on the other end of the line. "How do you do this?" she asked.

"Hit the speaker button, right there--"

"Oh! Hello, Annie, can you hear us?" asked Josie.

"This is Richard and Emily Gilmore!" I said, trying on my best Edward Hermmann, and Annie sniggered.

"We just wanted to see how things went last night," said Josie.

"Did you see any more of him?"

"Yes. One other time," said Annie.

"You did?" I asked.

"What did he say?" asked Josie, almost simultaneously.

"Nothing," said Annie. "He just walked out of the elevator, with his wife and Christopher, and they moved to the door. And they looked at the party that was going on in the gatehouse, and looked at me...and then, they turned around and left, without saying a word. And that was it."

"That was it?" I asked, angry for her.

"Maybe they didn't know what to say," suggested Josie, trying to build a bridge. "It sounds like they wanted to say something."

We sat there, unsure of what to say next. "So, Annie. Do you think I look better than John?"

Annie laughed. "Yes, daddy. You do."

"And what about me?" asked Josie. "Do I look better than Rachel?"

"You look WAY better!" said Annie, animated.

"See?" said Josie, poking me. "I got a WAY better out of her!"

Well, another chance encounter out of the way. But I don't get some people. Okay, I get that he wasn't emotionally ready at a young age, and also, that he signed over his rights and responsibilities when I adopted Annie. But how could anyone give up the chance to get to know someone as wonderful as my girl?