Wednesday, December 02, 2009

The Mayor and the Mouse Shoes

Preface: This is a modern day fairytale. It is totally true. Except my friend Milena is not a princess. At least not that I know of.

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess named Milena. Milena lived a happy life, but she craved something more. Although her days were filled with joy--an exciting government internship, a really cute dog, an impressive collection of headbands, and a boyfriend who can totally pull off newsboy caps, she always felt that something was missing.

One night in the summer of 2007 she was browsing her friend Winona's blog, and stumbled upon a photo that would change her life.


O yes, these $358 rodent-inspired shoes were a princess's dream come true! The problem? They were $358. As a college student, Milena could hardly justify such an expense. Alas, the mouse shoes would have to wait.

The seasons changed, years passed, and Winona and Milena moved apart and fell out of touch. Still, through their separate graduations, jobs, and adventures, the mouse shoes never left their minds.

A couple months ago Milena and Winona reconnected. And it was at a coffee shop that Winona said, "Remember the mouse shoes?"

Milena gasped, because of course she remembered the mouse shoes, and this encouragement was all she needed to begin an eBay search. She found pairs that were too big, too small, too black, too white, and finally: a silver pair in her size that was just right. And around a hundred bucks. Sweet.

Milena received her mouse shoes in the mail and felt that her life was finally complete. She wore them everyday, with jeans, skirts, trousers, everything. Looking down at those little eyes and whiskers peeking out from the hem of her pants always made her smile, but there was still a slight problem: nobody else seemed to care about the mouse shoes. She hadn't received one compliment--not one! And I mean, yeah, she loved them and maybe that should have been enough, but sometimes a princess needs a little validation, you know?

A couple weeks later, Milena went to an important work meeting. Sam Adams, the mayor of Portland, happened to sit down next to her. He asked to borrow a pen. She obliged. It was pretty much the coolest moment of her life.

When the meeting adjourned, the mayor returned the pen, and as he was leaving he leaned in toward Milena.

"Cool mouse shoes," he said.

And Milena (and her mouse shoes) lived happily ever after.

35 comments:

Elizabeth McMullen said...

Love love!

xo elizabeth

Offbeat Follies said...

I want those mouse shoes so bad. I can then make a stop-animation short of my T.U.K. cat shoes chasing them! XD

Falderal & Felt said...

That is, without a doubt, the most epic story ever. My jealousy of mouse-shoes and fashionable local politicians knows no bounds.

Anonymous said...

That made my day. On about nine different levels.

Anonymous said...

Agreed, my day is pretty much complete now.

Angela said...

That made me smile.

FutureLint said...

Cutest story about the cutest shoes... I can't even handle it! So much overwhelming cuteness, I feel like I need to go spend some time in a seedy adult bookstore to get the cuteness level of my day back in line... (but won't!)

WendyB said...

The only thing better than a happy fish feet ending.

Becky said...

This was the best fairytale I've ever read! That mayor has excellent taste. :)

InnyVinny said...

I love happy endings...

*sigh*

Heidi Rose said...

*chuckle* Awesome.

The Big Piece of Cake said...

I love that story.

Becky C. said...

I need these shoes in my life! Failing that, I think a Primark-ified DIY version is in order.

Kate Coveny Hood said...

I think I'd prefer to be wearing pants while standing next to someone wearing the mouse shoes...otherwise it would feel like they were looking up my skirt.

Lisa said...

Aww I love a story with a happy ending, particularly if it involves mouse shoes!

Moon said...

Wonderful story! I knew a girl from Korea with the most amazing collection of animal-ified shoes. Hopefully I'll get there one day to rescue a shoe zoo of my own...

Anonymous said...

Fantastic! That really was the happiest story I've heard all day. :D

roysie said...

:D Big smile! I know those shoes!

Lesa said...

A great story, and one I can relate to, last year i bought the best chihuahua shoes in the world on Etsy. they make me so happy.

Christina said...

What an adorable story-- I feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

Unknown said...

It is really weird that my night sucked until right now? That story made me feel better <3

Vanessa said...

I've actually seen someone wearing shoes exactly like these in black. I saw it after you originally posted about the mouse shoes, so it was really exciting. I think I even took a creepy cameraphone picture 'cause that's how I roll.

baludec3 said...

Good post. I like this post. Thanks for share.

Stacey said...

Yay, that's such a cute story!

Eline said...

NOw I want mouse shoes.

Anonymous said...

WIN!

Mabel and Zora said...

Such a cute story Winona! How could no one compliment those shoes! Crazy!

propriatress said...

well, he's gay. duh. and that is why Portland is perfect.

Morgan said...

I just love a happy ending. *wipes away tears of joy*

tuesday said...

winona! what happened to inadvertently ask daddy likey?

OwlFace said...

this is the best fairy tale evaaaar! finally, a happy ending i can get behind!
: )

GLC said...

And we say men never noticed our shoes. Bah! I don't know anything about Portland politics but he should be kept in office for this story alone.

xo, Alexi said...

solution to the problem if the really adorable mouse shoes being a zillion dollars: cheap white shoes and sharpies.
maybe even some construction paper and fabric glue if you're feeling crafty.

Katie said...

haha! love the story!
i was obsessed with the mouse shoes for several seasons until i finally bought the black patent leather ones at marc by marc jacobs' annual insane sale (i bought them new for $80!). the first day i wore them, i couldn't stop looking at them! i almost broke my nose walking into a pole because i couldn't take my eyes off my adorable mouse shoes. yup. totally worth it.

heather.wuest said...

I follow Sam Adams on Twitter and he actually sent a link out to this story. Hahaha, Love it.

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