This colder weather caused me to open a shoe box on the chair next to my computer. It held red boots I’d ordered that were delivered in November. Surely I’d tried them on when they came in, but didn’t remember, so put them on for a grocery trip last week.

Hm-m-m. Didn’t remember they had shoe laces.

I hadn’t had lace-ups for years, but was glad they were already laced up, or partially laced. I’d bought them because they had hooks and loops at the top, the same as my Christmas shoe skates when I was 13.

Back in the 1950s our OKC First Baptist Church had an activity center on the third floor with a basketball court that could be turned into a skating rink. Mother worked at the church, I spent lots of time there, and loved to skate.

It wasn’t easy to get those fashion boots laced up while I tried to recapture my youth. One of the hooks was crimped shut and gave me fits since I’m used to slip-on shoes, or as some people call them, house shoes.

It also took time and effort to bend over that long while I sat on the couch.

For a minute I wanted my 30-year-old pullon boots that I’d trashed because water seeped in through holes.

When I stood up my new boots that looked red on the ordering screen turned burgundy on my feet. They were comfortable though, and stayed that way all day, even when I got home.

That made up for it tak-ing so long to put them on, but little did I know itwould take more time getting them off.

By the time I got the knot out of the left shoe lace and took it off, there was yet another reason why I’d bought them: a zipper on the side. You just un-zip them, and slip them off. No need to re-lace, re-hook, re-tie.

It was dark in the living room the morning I put them on, and yes, I’m due a trip to the eye doctor soon, but they are burgundy.