We're calling it quits

 

Now that Valentine's Day is over I can tell you the truth. My hubby and I are calling it quits.

Sometimes it's nobody's fault. It just doesn't fit. You try and try to make it work even when you know it won't. Yet, you hang on, like a pair of shoes that constrict your bunion, rub a blister on your heel, pinch your toes. You live in denial, ignore the pain as long as possible, talk yourself out of it or into it, and keep them around for show or perhaps a brief traipse. Then, every time you endure the aggravation you wonder, What was I thinking?

There comes a time when you realize it's time to toss out that which does not work, hampers and harms, causes pain and agony. When you can pretend no longer, you must face reality and do something about it.

The opposite of having a poor fit, is finding a fit that becomes so comfortable you simply wear out a good thing. Being taken for granted can feel like abuse. Like that perfect pair of shoes you become attached to, you hang on too long, wear out the soles, snap the threads until they no longer support you.

By the way, I've been noticing a lot of shoes laying on the sides of the highway in all sizes, shapes and kinds. They are never in pairs. In one day I've seen a sling slung out a window, a kid's tennis shoe on the run, a Nike just doing it, a man's gargantuan brogand sitting upright filling with rain, a flip no longer flopping and a cute, embellished  Mary Jane in my size that I'd have stopped for if it had had a mate.

Now, if this footwear frenzy were on the same highway, I'd surmise that someone in transit lost the lid to their large Rubbermaid shoe container from the back of a pickup truck. But no, these shoes are all over the place. A baby shoe, well you can figure the kid pitched it out while having a high-pitched fit. A woman's spike heel...perhaps a night on the town, or a get-away that should be forgotten. I wish I had the back story for all of this footwear. I don't have an explanation. I just know that someone, somewhere is going to realize they have one shoe and will have to call it quits.

 Back to Bill and me, we've been so comfortable together, like a pair of old shoes splitting our seams. We've come to a mutual decision. Someone has to decide to say ENOUGH! So...

the chocolate covered pretzel chips have to go. I've got to stop unwrapping Dove chocolate squares, you know, to read the inspirational messages. The box of Russell Stover's from my students...once
we remove all of the nuts and chews... oh, and the buffets, even coupons for free ones... well, hubby and I have decided if we want to stay together we'll have to call it quits.

Note to writers: simile, analogy and metaphor are fun to play with. Do you use these techniques in your writing?

Seriously, what do you think is up with all of the shoes laying around town? Have you noticed them, too?