Thoughts On a Certain Pair of Shoes

Failing to forecast, as I should have, the incredible amount of rain that was to fall today, I wore my Topsiders to work. This was a poor choice. Note to self for future reference: Topsiders are not waterproof. It's beyond me why anyone would think to wear these on a boat, the purpose for which they were designed. They do not keep out the water, they become sticky when wet (and lend to my feet a rather peculiar reddish brown tint that is unlike their usual pallor) and, most conspicuously , they patently lack any traction whatsoever. The shoes were originally marketed as superior deck shoes because of their ingenious water chanelling herringbone sole pattern, but this tread is quite unequal to the task of the Ireland rain. 

The shoes were originally marketed for Sailors. It is not hard to see why they had little success. Later, they were adopted and produced by the U.S. Navy, which has an unerring sense for attractive inefficiency. Even later, they were adopted by people of a certain background who wished to give the appearance that they had just come from the yacht and couldn't tarry long, really, because they were swiftly on their way to the performance of another feat of nautical bravado. Finally, I adopted them because they appeared to be comfortable. 

And, to their credit, they are. But footwear that is well suited for Bocce on the Lawn is not ideal for navigating O'Connell street in a storm. I would commit significant funds to the purchase of a pair of Bean Boots right now, were such luxuries available to me.