Cut to Size

A simple memory to carry from my housemates. I bought a pair of cheap flip-flops back in March from the little outside market near the ‘mall’. I was walking to the location for a Peace Corps gathering, thought I might spend the night but only had my walking shoes. I don’t know my shoe size in Namibia (still don’t) so the vendor handed me a pair, said they should fit, and I bought them for about @20$N (less than 2$US).

They were tolerable but more than an inch, or about 5cm as they would say here, too long. They bugged me.

Fast forward to September, about 6 months later. They bugged me so much that I finally decided to cut them to size. I used my box-cutter and cut them perfectly to my size. I was very pleased with how the cuts were made, they looked natural and no one would know, and best of all they now felt good on my feet.

Later that day I walked out of my bedroom, headed to the bathroom and Martha (Blessing’s nanny) says, “Ellen, why you cut your shoes?” Number 1, I was so disappointed she could tell immediately that I cut my flip-flops and Number 2, how do I explain it? I told her they were too big and bothered me. She laughed and said, “So you cut them?” She cracked up and thought this was hysterical. “Why not buy another pair and give these away?” “Why did you buy them too big?” These were all things I had asked myself but cutting them seemed the simplest thing to do and I am frugal.

Then Ester (Blessing’s mom) came home, immediately observed my flip-flops saying, “Ellen, did you cut your shoes?” Again, when I said yes, she laughed, had the same questions. Martha recounted her observation early in the day and they both laughed and could not believe that I would cut my shoes to fit.

I love my cut off flip-flops. I only wear them at home. Weeks later, Martha and Ester still love teasing me about them, they are a regular source of laughter as they each recall when they noticed and their disbelief that I cut my shoes. I laugh with them and it feels good.

All for now with all my love, Ellen