The Jordans that Got Away
If shoes were crack, lawd knows I’d need a Platinum Dental PPO to fix the inside of my moufs because I’d be allergic to teefs. My shoe addiction started my senior year of high school, when I started rocking all colors of the Nike Prestos. Well, technically, my shoe addiction started the day I was borned, because I believe it is genetic. My mama is also a shoe head.
A shoe addiction + a senile mind = a heartbroken Luvvie. I am senile as heck, and if my left tit wasn’t attached to my chest, it may come up missing. I’d be a half-cleavage having mofo. What I’m trying to say is that I have lost my share of shoes in my lifetime. Not from my feet growing or nothing (I’ve worn the same size since freshie year of high school). I’ve lost shoes by leaving them places (like the green flats I left at Naija Reunion but didn’t realize i left them until 2 weeks later when I was just unpacking. *shaking head*)
Anyway, picture it, Chicago, 2000. A young tomboy Luvvie was on the Girl’s Basketball team at Chicago premier’s high school. She rocked Nikes, and like every true hooper *side-eye*, she didn’t wear the shoes she hooped in outside of the gym. She had never rocked Jordan’s because she didn’t particularly like them, but then she saw these Jumpman Pro Quick shoes and she HAD to have them. Young, broke yet determined Luvvie saved her lunch money for weeks and proudly went to Foot Locker (on State Street, of course), plunked the $75 down and came out with them Jumpman kicks. She stroked them all the way home and got high on the new shoe smell. The next day at bball practice, there was an extra pep in her step. “Yeah I see you seeing me in my new Jumpmen. Don’t be jealous.” Even my airballs had mad swagger.
*Sigh* I LOVEDED these shoes!
Well on one eventful morning I had my beloved Jumpmen in a plastic bag as I commuted to school. I placed the plastic bag under my seat on the CTA and placed my book bag in front of it. Well, when I exited the bus to transfer to another bus, I walked off with just one bag (my bookbag). I was 15 minutes into my trip on the other bus before I realized the TRAGEDY!
I had left my jumpmen on the bus!!! AAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!
I think its the first time I ever let strangers see me cry. I wanted to throw myself on the ground of that bus and wail! But I did not. I think I got to my locker and *wall slide*. I sang many sad love songs on that day. *Sigh* memories of the good times me and my kicks had together kept playing. I was so traumatized that I even quit the Basketball shortly thereafter (or did I quit because me and the bench were ONE and the same? The permanent groove my ass left on it was pitiful. Eh, my memory’s cloudy. Who keeps track? Moving on…).
So on this here day, I’m remembering all the kicks we don lost before their time!
Realest Talk. I don’t even rock gymshoes like that anymore. I only have about 6 or 7 and they are all Chuck Taylors. But if I were to find these on sale somewhere, I would buy them. For the sneaker heads out there, if you know where I can cop them, do let me know. I’d love you forever and a day and send you a bowl of rice if you find them for me. I wear 5.5 in lil boys. kthnx!
*Pouring out a lil Bailey’s for all the lost kicks*
*Singing* “It’s so harrrddd, to say goodbye, to my homies”
Anyone else been traumatized by the loss of some favorite shoes? Or am I the only one?
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13 Comments
I bought the cutest stilletoes to wear to my BFF’s party last Spring. I practiced walking in them and everything. I was cute! But since I am in no way shape or form a real high heel wearing chick, I was out of them w/in an hour or so @ the club. I put on my flats I’d brought in my purse. I do this all the time, never lose a shoe. Some “helpful” mofo moved my shoes and one got lost! I was heated! I through a fit of epic proportions! I loved that shoe. I miss it too. I kept the mate, just to look @ it. *sadness*
Another shoe tragedy:
I went on a shopping trip out of town once and bought a cute lil pair of sandals. Got back home and realized I had 2 damn left shoes. *heated*
I was a sneaker fiend when I was in high school; I ‘d buy 2 new pair every pay check. I had all these different ACG’s, Jordans, Jumpmans, Timbs (ok those aren’t sneakers but so what LOL), FILA’s, Adidas, etc. I had accumulated thousands of dollars worth of shoes in a relatively short amount of time my senior year of high school. Then some bad azz neighborhood ruffians (they couldn’t have been no more than between the ages of 8 and 12) broke into my house and stole EVERY LAST PAIR.
I was so traumatized, I have never put that much energy into sneakers again…I want to, oh boy I want to! But my heart can’t take another breaking like that…
One summer, I scrapped together my savings from weekends of cleaning my grandmother’s apartment (OK vacuuming her carpet), proceeds from recycling aluminum cans and leftover change in the couch and went to 63rd Street to buy some WY Air Force One’s (you know the navy and orange junts).
Anyway, I came back to school with that freshness and I was the envy of many… they was just mad cuz I was stylin on ’em. I had that super cold school spirit ish.
To ensure my dopeness stayed intact, I put my shoes in my locker so that I wouldn’t scuff or sully my cushioned treasures. That’s when tragedy struck – or triflin knee grows – you pick – either one fits the scenario.
I come back to my locker and my babies were gone! I think I did a Florida Evans on the spot.
DAMN DAMN DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMN!
It was real traumatical. Life changed forever that day. Woe is my shoes.
Check ebay…you may find them on there.
PBG – LMAO!!! How did you manage 2 left shoes? iDied @ *heated* too
Assertive Wit – I think I just shed a tear after reading that. In fact, I KNOW I did. I truly cue violins
Smartie – Damn damn DAMNNN indeed!! And you KNOW how hard it was to find perfect Navy & Orange kicks for our school.
K – I just may look there…
Look here hoe- I don’t know how many times we gon have to establish that you were not on no damned ball team, but I solemnly swear to call you out every single time you bring it up. Stop it!
I BANG W/ THOSE JUMPMEN SO HARD RIGHT NOW. I remember I got them for the cheap b/c I got the display pair out the window. I almost cried before homecoming my senior yr of high school when I had the Jordan cleats ready to go spatted up and all and I left them in the cab i took to the game that day
Jack would curl up and die, probably, if he left any of his sneakers anywhere.
-Jill
If shoes were crack, I would be selling ass and running trains just to smell the inside of the damn box!!!!!
Love you Luvvie!!!!!
This part was HILARIOUS! “(or did I quit because me and the bench were ONE and the same? The permanent groove my ass left on it was pitiful.”
….and sounds familiar (read: my own experience; dont let this 5’9″ frame fool you! I am NOBODY’S basketball player, lol. I was in denial for a few years, ehn, lol)
Anyway, I am not a gym-shoe junkie (only Chi says ‘gym shoe’ to note ALL kicks, I noticed lol) by any means but I AM a shoe addict something ridiculous. About a year ago, I lost some black heeled boots…..and I just noticed it this winter. I searched all of the houses my clothes are PLUS my trunk and……nothing 🙁 I got them from ALDO…and they werent on sale at all. (read…sigh…..250 bucks….sigh again). Know what? Im gettin mad all over again. Lemme go now…..
🙁
I lose EVERTHYING and ANYTHING, so I stopped putting money into valuable stuff that is portable along time ago lol
By the way, I went to the Naija Reunion in 2005 in ATL lol
Can’t say I have lost any shoes, but I had a pair of those Jumpman’s too. And, yes I agree, they were the shit! I have lost my share of pricey designer shades. Now, I refuse to buy any shades over $30. LOL
Nikki: agreed on the shade thing…a friend/passenger SAT ON (not lost) some Coach shades that were in the seat as I picked her up…
let’s just say I was then down to 8 lives…
Luvvie: Big upz to Illinois!!! (junior, still here…don’t wear gym shoes ever anymore, jordans/jumpmans were always the case in my high school hoopin’ days as well…so in that previous life I would so feel your pain)
Slim: I too have an ALDO $100+ lost story in the boot dept.
down to 7 lives…