One of our family traditions during the holidays (especially when the kids were little) was to see Christmas lights. We had visited this light show the previous year. Unfortunately, when we got to the park we realized you had to walk to see all the lights and it was too cold of a day to walk. So I promised the kids we would go again the following year.
This time around I made sure to plan accordingly. I checked the forecast and found the perfect day for the excursion.
On the scheduled day, we loaded the kids in the minivan. Grabbed some snacks and off we drove. Apparently, I was not the only one who realized it was perfect weather to see lights because EVERYBODY was there. We waited in line for over an hour before we could get into the park and this doesn’t include the hour drive to get there.
The main draw is the bridge which is strung in beautiful soft white lights. From a distance, it looks celestial, like it’s floating in the air.
Unfortunately, when I planned my outfit for our Christmas lights adventure I may not have completely thought it through. I may have forgotten I was going to be walking in a PARK. Thus I chose to wear my cute boots with the 2-inch heels. I was going for a cute, festive look not a walking in the park look.
I realized the inappropriateness of my footwear, the second I stepped onto the unpaved parking lot, filled with tiny pieces of gravel and stone. Not the best place to walk in heels. My husband and the kids made it out of the parking lot with no effort. While I hobbled and wobbled behind them like I was inebriated. But don’t worry, I looked super cute in my boots!
When I finally made it out of the parking lot, there before me lay my second challenge. Damp. Muddy. Ground. The perfect condition to make heels sink. Once again, the husband and kids made it past the muddy ground and onto the bridge with no effort. While I looked like I was either stomping grapes or killing ants, you pick. Did I mention how cute these boots were?
But it was all worth it once I made it to the bridge, sparkling in all its ethereal glory. It was truly breathtaking! The brochure said walking on the bridge was like walking on the clouds. I wouldn’t know. I spent the entire time watching my feet. Clearly whoever designed the bridge had my boots in mind because the space between the planks was the perfect size for my heels to get wedged in. So I spent the entire time balancing on my toes while avoiding the gaps. Have I mentioned how stinkin’ cute these boots were?
The highlight of the night was the lights (in the entire park) synchronized to Christmas music. The whole park seemed to come alive, as if by magic. Literally, waiting for this moment to shine. It was spellbinding!
As we made our way back to our minivan, the husband questioned the appropriateness of my cute boots. He was in shock I wore them. Having never owned a pair of cute boots himself, obviously, he was jealous. I told him wasn’t it better to have a wife looking cute and inappropriate versus dull and appropriate? The park was filled with women wearing appropriate footwear but did any of them feel as cute as I did? Did any of them worry about twisting their ankle, or getting their cute boots stuck? Did any of them even bother to look down and enjoy the weathered planks of the bridge instead of enjoying the lights? I bet not!!
What I’ve learned
Sometimes I make dumb choices.
Haha! I’d like to believe every woman has had this moment. I know I can relate!
To this day I don’t know what I was thinking.