Tuesday, May 1, 2012

With the Wind at My Back and a Picket Sign in My Face

Last week I landed a pair of Vanessa Mooney's aztec moccasins at a sample sale and be damned if almost all my dreams nearly did come true.
Six months of internet searches where I jumped around from one foot to the next until 
they were all sold out culminated in a magnificent reunion.
I hugged them, I leapt in the air, I made a special space for them in my closet.

Yesterday I dressed up like somebody's mom and took them on their maiden voyage for a lunch date.
Overcome with glee I busted out some sort of homage to Danielsan--the one, the only, Karate Kid.
It was a moment.

But the best was yet to come.

This morning I got up, clicked my friggin heels together and prepared to go pick up the last size 6 in the bootie style. It's like the aztec moccasin fairies have been all up in my business this week. Bless them.

On my way out of town I noticed a significant amount of police activity. As in about 20 motorbike ones, 2 of those big vans, several police cars...and a chopper? Good thing I'm getting out of here, I thought to myself. 

Well hold that thought, Carrie. As I got into downtown LA many of the streets were blocked off.  Thinking it was construction, I maneuvered available one ways until I began to notice row upon row of police bikes lining the sidewalks for blocks. And I mean BLOCKS. LAPD is that big? It became apparent, once I turned down the ABBA Dancing Queen disco party in my car, that I was in the middle of an epic sh*tstorm of some sort.  Choppers everywhere, so close their sound was thundering in my chest.  Documentarians with cameras and those dustmop microphones strewn all over the streets. Police, more police, and food trucks? What? 

Don't these people know I need my shoes? They're the last pair!!

Suddenly out of the corner of my eye I caught a SEA OF PICKETERS headed my way.  Screeching into the nearest parking lot I bolted out of my car as a nice parking attendant hollered, 'Where you headed lady? It's not so safe for you down here right now.  I charge you two dollar and you hurry back or you might not be able to get out. Why these people do this? It's not like the government is going to change immigration policy anyway..." as I rounded the corner and wound up marching amongst those picketers in the greatest irony of all.  I'm an immigrant almost through the Naturalization process--something these people so desperately want for themselves--to belong, to make this country their legal home.


You know sometimes you set out to do one thing and, even though that thing (that you love and are so grateful to have) may get accomplished, you end up encountering something else that gives you a fresh perspective. I daresay the right perspective, at least for me.

It was a helluva day. 

And the shoes? I made it to them safely and wish I would have hung around to observe a bit more. I think today was an important day for me somehow.  As far as the shoes go, someday I'll tell them about the time I got swept up in an immigration protest, just to bring them home.

30 comments:

Courtney Erin said...

It sounds very eventful! And I can see how that whole experience sort of has another level of meaning for ex-pats like us...I get the same feeling when there's immigration protests here in New Haven and I'm basically getting booted out of the country.

Courtney ~ http://sartorialsidelines.com

P.S. You know I love both pairs of the kicks!

Johanna said...

I'm loving your shoe purchases as of late. Would steal 'em if I didn't live so far away!

LyddieGal said...

Fabulous shoes - glad you survived the trip.

Danielle (elleinadspir) said...

That picture just made.my.day.

Josie said...

Carrie. You are adorable. And hysterical. And I'm just beyond thrilled that you made it to your shoes safely!
xo Josie
www.winksmilestyle.com

ChrisRobinson said...

Cray cray! but those mocs are the lion's paw. I'm dying. heart you.

Closet Fashionista said...

I LOVE those!!! *dies*
And wowza, that was quite the adventure to get to the other pair. Sounds a little scary too though, with all the police activity. (and wooohooo for Naturalization! :D)
http://www.closet-fashionista.com/

Alexa said...

Oh wow those shoes are just incredible! So pretty!

bestie said...

i'm in love with this post! seriously, i appreciate every word of it. and i do love those shoes - posted on vanessa mooney's line last week. jewelry is gorge and accessible. xo

Tiffany Kadani said...

Haha! All I want to know is what kind of food trucks were there.

Lou said...

Dreams do come true Carrie and even better when shoes are involved!!! Love them. Lucky you. And to have bare feet - it's still so damn COLD here. Grrr or should I say brrr. Can I come to LA? It's been a busy time for me so less commenting, but I am always with you in spirit! Lou x

Anonymous said...

Oh, I'm laughing over here. You in your "mom outfit" doing karate kid and having your one-woman Abba disco party. Too cute. So glad you got your shoes!! xo

RosaLovesDC said...

OMG, this is the funniest story ever. But you know, I would do the same for a pair of comfortable shoes. No one can get between a girl and her shoes.

Lisa said...

hahaha that was a very eventful day! yesterday we had an entire avenue of police cars, suvs, horses and choppers too! but it was occupy wall street...again
in dramatic fashion

little luxury list said...

That is just nuts! But you got your shoes - protests, natural disasters, crazies running around couldn't stop that!

xoxo,
Chic 'n Cheap Living

Amber said...

well thank goodness you got to your shoes! They look like they were made for you :)

Kristen said...

what a sh*tshow. love the shoes.

allison said...

That pose is too cute! Love the aztec moccasins.

A Crimson Kiss said...

I love everything about this post. The shoes, that amazing photo of you, but best of all, their incredible maiden voyage.

Lisa - respect the shoes said...

Loafers - love them! Worth the protest march, imo, haha.

Gorgeous Glam said...

those are awesome!! xx

Minuet Raven said...

I absolutely love those moccasins!
Thank you for visiting my blog <3

Minuet

OneCraftyFox said...

Your stories are always so vividly captured, I can literally visualize what is happening.

Glad you got your booties, and what an exciting day!!

Jessie said...

haha Love this! First of all I can see why you wanted these, they are AMAZING!! and second I am soo happy they made your day :))

XX
Jessie
www.87life.net
Check out 87Life on Facebook!

FRANKIE HEARTS FASHION said...

good lord...oh the things we do for SHOES! xo

Audrey said...

Congrats on getting your dream shoes! ^^

allergic to vanilla said...

Your in LA??! I was so close to you this weekend! Was in town for a few conferences, that would of been super funny to "run into" you- since I was in downtown LA Thurs-Sat too!

x carlina
allergictovanilla.com

Polly said...

Anything for a good pair of shoes huh?

She Wore It Well said...

LOVE them shoes babe! x

Unknown said...

see i knew i'd get a laugh then a punch of realization coming here! - so overall wanna say JEALOUS of the shoes - and RIGHT ON GIRL getting into that mob and then finding compassion for them - hell yea that's a hellava day but a good hellava day i would say!

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