The bottoms of mothers red leather pumps were showing daylight and the edges were looking pretty rough. Still, they remained her "shoes of choice" despite an almost pristine pair of dr. scholls orthopedics purchased nearly 2 years ago when it seemed a practical choice, or the more sedate brown leather pumps (purchased at the same time as the red.)
The hunt for shoes was always about finding out where the red pair had landed. It was never about any of the other pairs in the closet. 
And so it was when the holes in the Red Shoes got large enough to let in water, bugs and hot concrete, that it came time to retire them. But what to replace them with?
Mother and I went shopping at Bealls yesterday and Pulled 4 pairs for her to consider. A nice leather, lace up tennis shoe,a beige mary jane, a sporty lime green flat and...these. The minute I pulled them out of the box - BEFORE she'd even tried them on Mother got this satisfied smile on her face and said "Those will do."
But, lets see if they fit, I said.
"Oh, I'm sure they'll fit," she said.
I could see a "Cinderella moment" coming.
Thankfully, it was a good fit. Just like mother had said. (Because I'm sure we'd have had to bring them home ANYWAY...just for the style of it all.)
I think we have made the transition to the blue shoes successfully. She wore them to bed with her pajamas last night. And assured me this morning that she would make them last ten years.