Shoes Gone Astray
Dorothy lost hers. I forgot mine. My wife broke hers. I speak of
shoes, of course.
So why are we all smiling?
Dorothy is that sweet little girl who broke in that bustin'
bronco of a tornado, landing in Oz and inheriting magic ruby
slippers from a dead wicked witch.
For most people, the story ends when Dorothy loses her precious
slippers somewhere over the scorching desert that surrounds Oz
... much like a Congressman loses his power when he flies out of
Washington and crosses over the gridlock on the scorching
mid-summer Beltway.
Just as a Congressman is bound to return to Washington sooner or
later, Dorothy actually does return to Oz many times. In fact,
there are dozens more books in the Oz series featuring hundreds
of almost unknown characters.
With or without the power of her ruby slippers, Dorothy makes
her way back to enjoy a multitude of unbelievable adventures
with her favorite misfits.
Shoe lesson number one. When you lose your shoes, improvise.
I discovered my shoes were missing also while flying high in the
sky.
Back in my days as a consumer advocate, I was on my way to
deliver a speech in Newfoundland, sharing the lectern with the
Newfoundland Minister of Transportation.
Sitting comfortably in the airplane seat, my mind was bobbing
aimlessly on an ocean of emptiness. Suddenly I broke out in a
cold sweat as I realized I had forgotten my dress shoes at home.
In fact, they were waiting faithfully by the front door, ready
to greet me upon my return.
In a matter of seconds I torpedoed through one thought after the
other:
Yikes! I'm wearing running shoes for an important speech.
I know, I can buy a new pair when I land.
Too late; the stores are already closed.
What about in the morning?
No, tomorrow is Sunday and my speech is scheduled for 9:00 a.m.
90 seconds later, the cold sweat had miraculously been replaced
with a single affirmation: "I will improvise"
The next morning, I began my speech: "You might be wondering why
I am wearing running shoes today. Well, it's about this petition
here. When I'm done speaking, I'll be running door to door and I
want every one of you to come running with me, too."
It was not the speech I had come to deliver, but it worked just
as well. Better, in fact. My little "goof-up" became a clever
demonstration of action speaking louder than words.
Shoe lesson number two. When you forget your shoes, improvise.
My brother was getting married. We had just witnessed the
signing of the papers at their house, and they were rushing over
to another place for the the ceremony. Don't ask!
As we locked up their house, my wife's sandal broke. She tried
walking in it, but to no avail. So off to the nearest shoe store
we flew