Auto Dealership

Today started out pretty normal.  We got up and headed to our men's breakfast held on the last Saturday of every month.  Since I'm a single parent they allow me to bring my daughter, so the two boys, my daughter and myself all jumped into my van for the breakfast.  Then my van decided to give me trouble starting.  Last winter the battery would often be dead and I had worked trying to find what was draining the battery.  While the vehicle was in the transmission shop they said they found a short in the grounding line.  I thought that problem had been fixed, but maybe it hadn't.

I attended the men's breakfast barefoot as I had been for a while now and nobody said a word.  Afterwards we headed to the car dealership to see what we won on the flyer, (you know the kind that make it look like you won $25,000) we had received in the mail.  I told my daughter that we would be lucky to get $1 (we actually got $5).  I felt it would be a good lesson in how advertising works.

I only gave it a second thought before I decided to enter the store barefoot.  I was greeted normally and was escorted to a table to begin the dance.  As I walked past several of the other sales people they made comments about my barefeet.  I think one of them said I couldn't be there barefoot, but I just waved him off.  My salesman was treating me with respect and courtesy right from the start. 

While I was sitting at the table one of the sales people from the peanut gallery had found an extra pair of sneakers and walked over to offer them to me.  They were way too large and I told them I was all set.  During our negotiations one of my handlers mentioned that his uncle use to always be barefoot.  Not sure if I could believe him, but it was a nice way to try and smooth things over.  I took the comments as being playful and I don't think they meant to be offensive, though they may have been close to the line, but if you choose to be barefoot, you are bound to draw attention to yourself.

I took the vehicle for a test drive and than we got down to serious business.  I was not 100% sure if this was what I wanted so they sweetened the pot continually until I couldn't refuse.  I told them I wanted to take another look at the van and went out onto the blacktop on a bright sunny afternoon and spent a while "kicking the tire".  If this didn't show them I was a real barefooter, nothing would, that blacktop was very warm.

I was in the store at least four hours and barefoot the entire time and got no further comments until I went in to sign the papers.  When I arrived in the financial office to sign papers I was asked if I was always barefoot.  I told him as much as possible.  

So I learned not to teach my kid a lesson about advertising. Though if my van had started properly this morning I might have won out and drove away $5 richer.  But as it was my van was 16 years old, with 170,000 miles and numerous quirks.  It wouldn't last much longer before beginning to cost me a lot in repairs.

Barefoot Evening

Thursday evenings the kids go to JBQ at our church.  Today I once again walked in with my shoes on, but once there I took them off.  The choir passed through and I ended up with a lot more comments then usual.

One lady said in a friendly manner "Put your shoes back on."
An elder of the church commented "Making yourself at home I see."
I don't recall the third comment, but it was still directed at my unshod feet. 

It is very interesting on how many people comment that you are barefooted.   I suppose it should not be surprising since it is not normal to see barefoot people these days.

Overall I think my plan is going to work, by the time summer comes around and I leave my shoes behind for good everyone will be so use to seeing me barefoot they will hardly give it a second thought that my shoes are not nearby.  At least it will not be a shock to the whole congregation, though during services I will still wear shoes, at least for the time being. 

When I left I just picked up my shoes and walked out the door along with another family.  Nothing was said and it was starting to rain and the temps were just above freezing.

That same evening, while refueling my van at the local gas station, the attendant came out to sweep up a spill that was now under my vehicle, but close to my bare feet.  With the wind chill it had to be below freezing and I could feel the cold ground under my feet.  This person didn't say a word about my lack of footwear and we briefly chatted as she waited for me to finish up and move my vehicle.  I know she had to have seen my feet since they were inches from the spilled substance. 

Overall another good time being barefoot.