I'm pretty sure a lot of the people in my generation spent their elementary school years using Gregg or AngTibay shoes.

I, on the other hand, was gifted (burdened) with a mother who was really into fashion.

I was, I admit, quite an ugly kid. No teeth only stumps (teeth melted off due to some antibiotic I got as a toddler), cokebottom glasses (astigmatic from birth), flat feet, weird tongue (should take a photo of it sometime), lots of baby fat, and my hair in pigtails tied by my yaya so tightly my head constantly hurt. I always wanted to fit in and look normal and cute like the other girls, and was dying for my first pair of Gregg shoes (not for looks, more to be like them). I really didn't want to look more different than I already did.

Mom said "no, they're ugly" and "My daughter won't wear those...she's going to have stylish shoes"

Hence, the Famolares.

I went through the 2nd to 4th grades wearing a pair of Aloras. Blast my big feet, but everytime I looked down I saw these humongous laceups with the strangest soles. My classmates used to laugh at me because of my shoes. I was both mortified - because some would point at my feet and start laughing; and strangely enough, proud - knowing that while they were wearing Greggs, I was in high fashion, cutting edge footwear...and these philistines didn't realize it.

I was a kid, so mostly the shame won.

The shoes were indestructible. I would drag my feet, slice the soles with my scissors, use them as slippers, walk in puddles. Not much change, at least not enough for my mom to get me a new (and different pair). Growing feet was my only hope.

I finally outgrew them when I was entering 5th grade. I was so excited. Told mom "Hey ma, I can't fit into these anymore. Can we go to Gregg tomorrow so I can get shoes for school?"

"No, Mai. No need, I bought a larger pair of Famolares for you because I knew you would need them someday"

This entry was posted on 6/04/2005 at 6/04/2005 09:05:00 am. You can skip to the end and leave a response.