The Mandatory Margarita Club Strikes Again: Adventures In Boldness and Boots

"I've been with the wrong woman for the right shoes." -- Terry the Waiter, Cocina Superior

I'm a lucky member of the Mandatory Margarita (Book) Club, a group of women that get together whenever margaritas are necessary. (They actually deserve a much longer post.) In short: we meet at a Mexican restaurant and share the details of our lives: jobs, relationships, travels, children, recent clothing purchases.

Last night, over crawfish quesadillas and margaritas, K. said that she had found the perfect pair of Frye boots, gorgeous black leather numbers on sale at a certain store right across from Cocina Superior. Sadly, the shoes, on sale at a major discount during a rare sale at this high-end store, weren't in stock in her size.

They were an 8. My size (well in boots at least).

This is how you know true friends: They encourage you -- no, URGE you, to put down the cheese dip and walk across the street to the store during dinner. I did. And I fell hard for these boots, timeless little lovers made out of the most supple leather. I held them in my hands and waited for a salesperson. And waited.

It's not unlike this store to ignore customers -- that's actually sort of their M/O and they seem to pride themselves as having a reputation as one of the snootiest shops in Birmingham. So much so that I typically avoid going in there. Don't want my business? Fine with me. So I walked out, returning empty handed to my friends.

Upon hearing what happened, they were aghast. And Anne, who I have only come to know through the Mandatory Margarita Club, proceeded to get up from her dinner, gently grab my arm and march me back over to the store.

Anne: "We are just going to go in there and tell them that what they did was unacceptable!"

Erin: "Um, can we just play it cool, just be casual about it," as we walked into the shop.

Anne: (To the man at the Chanel Counter). "Excuse me, is there someone working in shoes? Because my friend waited here for 10 minutes without being helped."

Erin: Turns red.

Even when the salesperson came out, she seemed miffed to have to pull the shoes. But I didn't care -- they were fantastic, and they fit like a glove. We were meant to be. And when she said, "you're not in our system, are you?" I said that I most certainly was.

When Anne and I returned to the restaurant, boots in hands, all the girls at the table wanted to see them. We even passed them around to our waiter Terry, who then gave us that great quote.

They're classic and timeless these boots. And these friends.

Related Links:

Southern Living Tales From The Road: My Quest For Perfect Cowboy Boots

West Texas Redux

Comments

[Virginia Stitt]

ML's Mom says "You go girl!

[Stephanie]

I don't know what store that was or the haters that work there, but dang, they suck. Those boots are lovely ... treasures for sure!!!

[Erin]

Aw, thanks Mary Lee's mama! You've raised one sassy lady! And Stephanie, we'll go there next time and show them who is boss ...

[Mocha]

Anne- you are the bane of lame clerks who quake in fear when they even hear that you are in the building...kinda like elvis, but more intense and without the jumpsuit..