My Love Affair with Crocs

When I was young, fit, and fashion conscious, my shoe collection consisted of strappy sandals, polished pointed-toed pumps, and cute little flats. But over the years, my stylish footwear has been replaced by increasingly more utilitarian footwear, and now, my closet is cluttered with clogs, sport sandals, and good quality running shoes.

Aging has taken a toll on my feet! My mother always told me that heels and pointed toes would cause me problems later in life, but I just laughed off her warnings. I should have looked at her feet!

While still envious of my coworkers who are able to color-coordinate their outfits with stylish shoes, I am consoled in that I have rediscovered my passion for shoes, albeit in a far less fashionable manner. I am crazy for Crocs.

I first discovered these colorful foam resin clogs in 2007 when I stopped at a Dick’s Sporting Goods store to pick up a gift for my stepson. I had heard of Crocs, of course, but never considered actually buying a pair. That afternoon, however, I spotted a pair of purple Crocs that seemed to be calling my name. I tried on a pair and was immediately smitten. They were so comfortable, and yes, cool!

It’s hard to believe Crocs have only been around since 2002. I can’t imagine my life without them! My collection includes various styles, sandals, closed and open clogs, and the standard clogs with air vents. I even have a pair of winter Crocs.

My Crocs are color-coordinated to my outfits and if people think it’s strange, I just smile as my feet luxuriate in comfort. If they get dirty, I sponge them off. If they get dull, I replace them. I even wear them in the pool when I teach my water aerobics class.

My biggest Croc-related thrill came unexpectedly. A new bargain outlet store opened recently and as part of their opening week specials, they had picked up a lot of Crocs that they were selling for less than $10. Imagine my glee as I filled a shopping basket with an entire year’s worth of comfy Crocs and still had cash to spare.

Sometimes I still ruminate over my inability to wear my pretty red heels or those black alligator pumps I still keep in the back of my closet. But then I slip into a new pair of bright red Crocs and all those feelings are dissipated. Who says getting older isn’t getting better!