Flip-flop spirituality
Last night at church, I sang with the band. I was wearing my Kenneth Cole wedge sandals – which, incidentally, are very cute but not very comfortable – and thus towered over the other girl I was singing with. She was wearing flip-flops.
I was so jealous.
I get a lot of comments on my shoes. I own three hanging shoe-bags full, and even still, I don’t have enough room for all of my pairs. I have hiking boots and cowboy boots and black leather riding boots. I have red heels and blue heels and strappy heels and heels that never should have been invented, they are so painful. If the government ever wants to really punish a terrorist, I have a horrendous pair of black peep-toe wedges that they can make him walk around in. I’d give him a few hours before he cracked and gave up all of his information, unable to take the raw rubbing and the blisters.
My point is this: I have shoes for every occasion, and a reason for every pair. Each pair serves a purpose. I like the practicality of it all: this pair for working out, this pair for making my legs look longer, that pair for the days when nothing but flats with a green ostrich print will do.
Flip-flops, on the other hand, serve no great purpose. No purpose, that is, except comfort.
I am convinced that we can draw direct parallels between our feet and our souls. So often, I want to cover up my feet, or encapsulate them in sometimes-painful casings for the sake of vanity. I don’t want anyone to see me with my guard down, and so I mask my anxiety with leather and rubber and color. In the same way, I like to keep the ugly parts of my personality carefully contained, out of sight of the general public. I cover up my flaws with a shimmering personality and a cute bow. Or if things are really bad, I will simply elevate myself to appear above it all.
When I wear flip-flops, I am forced to not be a control freak. I can’t hide my chipped toenail polish or my calluses or my cracked heels. I can’t ward off the wet dirt creeping onto my feet from the recently watered lawn. I can’t run fast and far. It’s just me and my dirty, unglamorous feet.
But it feels good. It feels good to let it all out there, bug bites and all. It feels good to be kind to my poor, aching feet. And it feels good to not care what they look like.
So thank God for flip-flops.
…okay, and thank God for these, too.
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Bonus feature:
Here’s a little weekend update video for you, recorded yesterday afternoon. Why a video? I don’t know – because I can.
Weekend Update from Annie Parsons on Vimeo.
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I loved the weekend update.
That was wonderful.
I hate flip flops.
I think there is something wrong with my feet because all cute shoes make me want to die.
I have a friend who lives in alaska and I am going to visit her in one month! right now there is only about 3 hours of dark. in July it gets back to about 4 hours of dark. hmm.
my hair does the same thing.
and also, terrorists are not always men, if we must be politically correct. although, women terrorists might not mind the heels as much.
Two perfectly cute ponytails. Then you can just twist them to flip whichever way you want. Or let me try and scrunch your hair with product and a diffuser and give you that messy, tussled flip-every-which-way look. Or leave it. Cuz you’re adorable and who cares if your locks
Heels are the devil. But I’m 5’2″ and… so… whaddya gonna do? Besides, I hear the devil wears Prada…
it helps to finish your sentences. I meant, “who cares if your locks curve to the right”…
I love that you recorded a weekend update; so fun and so very annie :)
Alaska is GORGEOUS this time of year. I have pictures of Alaska at 3 am and it looks like it’s just about dusk. It’s pretty incredible.
Of course I want a CD! Do you have a paypal account? I’ll send you my address via email. You do have the same email address, right? If not, email me first. Terry McN
Hi Annie!
1. Tell your stylist about your flip dilemma. The way they angle and layer the cut has a lot to do with the way it flips, and, actually, whether it flips at all. Yes, you heard me. They can actually make it kind of straight. Which is awesome. Wish I could come down with my snippers and help, though you should know that it’s still cute. It kind of looks like you’re permanently whipping your head to the right.
2. I watched the Notebook, too. Damn that movie.
If you’re going on an Alaskan cruise, you will most likely be stopping in my hometown- Juneau. I will pray for sunshine. Because when it’s sunny, I come from the most beautiful place on earth. When it’s not, well, you might not remember you’d even visited because its stunning qualities get a little lost in the mist. Regardless, if I’m not there, I can still probably hook you up with fun things to do while in town. Keep it in mind…
My hair does the same thing…unless I really deliberately style it. Because, well, as you know, I do good hair these days.
Of course, that good hair is not my own.
OMG funniest/best video I’ve ever watched. I love how straight laced you are throughout… and it was so random.
Umm… I don’t think the sun sets at all. The other night I was going home around 1-ish and it was what I lovingly refer to as “dusk.” Woke up one night at 330 am and had to check my phone for the time because seriously, I expected my alarm to go off.
I support your Alaskan cruise if it includes staying at my house. Who cares about the water, wildlife, etc. when you’ve got me?
Is it wrong of me to say that I dig the ‘flops’ and immediately thought that your hair looked cute JUST LIKE THAT? I am feeling somewhat shameful at this point — hmm, well, I am not one for hair advice anyway (ponytail anyone?)
:)
~Diana
Annie…
1. I live in flip flops (remember my wedding?), but I am starting to realize there are actually more flattering summer shoes out there. Still.
2. I want a cd…do you take Canadian $?
3. Um…so an Alaskan cruise won out over a tour of Edmonton? It stays light here until 11…not good enough? no? okay.
4. Did you get my message the other day?
5. I had the same thought as Becca–what if the terrorist is a woman?
Hair tip: Embrace it. Think of it as flip-flops for your head, right?
CD: Sure. Where do I mail the $7?
LOVE the hair, the video, and i want a CD. how do i get one? those covers you made are adorable!
My mom and I love you. We might be your biggest fans. And we think you should post video recordings of yourself every weekend. And, we want a cd.
:)
French women all wear these excellent classy flats, and Heidi and I trudge around all day in our ugly black reefs. My toenail polish is chipping. My feet are swollen from walking by the end of the day. Sometimes, people look us up and down to ascertain our country of origin, and they always nod in grim certainty when they see the reefs.
It’s true. They’re ugly.
But so damn comfortable.
Marijke is right. Right now when the days are longest it doesn’t really get completely dark in Anchorage. The hours of daylight experienced really depends on how high you are in the state. This further north you go the more dramtic the light and dark can be.
Hi! I want a cd – how do I get a cd? Do you use paypal? My email is sabemi7@gmail.com. Thank ya :).
I have trouble w/my hair flipping out on both sides. Sometimes the stylist can take care of it, but this past haircut, she kind of missed the boat. ‘s okay, still turned out cute.
I love flip-flops, but my most recent pair has given me horrible blisters. Sucks.