I have always enjoyed running certain errands, like going to the
supermarket. During hot summers I can walk into the cool produce
section by the front door and by the time I reach the frozen food section
at the opposite end, I am no longer worried about the sweat that
will soon run down my face. I am in the zone. I feel like I am flying.
Technically, I am rolling-because, I go food shopping in my
Heely’s.
I was always jealous of the children I saw zooming freely around
malls and stores. They could make otherwise bland errands into an
opportunity to play.
So, after watching the Dane Cook movie “Employee of the Month”
where I saw him wearing the adult-sized version of the shoe, I went
out the next day and bought myself a pair of brown and white Heely’s
to call my own.
Learning to utilize the wheels in the heels of my shoe was not easy.
My apartment has old, un-milled wood flooring and the only place I
could smoothly practice was my kitchen, where if you lift the area rug,
there are 6-feet of laminated floor space.
Back and forth between the table and armoire, I practiced shifting
my weight to the back of my feet while lifting my toes.
I only fell once, while demonstrating to my roommate how talented
I was.
I also took advantage of my 12-year-old brother, who could teach
his 25-year-old sister a few things about gliding around town.
Finally I was stable enough on my feet to venture out to the stores.
The thing about Heely’s are that you can replace the wheels with flat
inserts that make the rolling shoe into a normal skater shoe.
I didn’t want to cause an accident by my feet slipping against the gas
pedal while driving, so once I was safely in the parking lot of the shopping
center, I replaced the inserts with wheels.
Then, I had to toe-step into the store, careful not to roll back onto my
heels unexpectedly, because I would most-likely slip and fall hard
upon my elbows.
Consider this my only warning to anyone interested in following in
my footsteps. No pun intended.
When it comes to performing fancy foot work around public places,
don’t be taken aback by the surprised smiles or stares from your fellow
man, especially if you are over the age of 14. Also, seek good flooring.
This brings me back to the wonder of the supermarket.
Not only are the floors smooth, but for novices, the shopping cart
adds for extra stability. In my case, I enjoy the increase in speed one
can get with that extra support.
Every week, when my refrigerator is bare, I don my Heely’s and
cruise up and down the aisles of the local food store.
I grab the attention of employee’s stocking the shelves, stay-athome
mom’s whom I am convinced are jealous of my footwear, and
lastly my fellow Heelers, their children.
I just LOVE my heelys!