From: Christopher Smith
Subject: a wonderful day
Date: Fri, 27 Dec 1996 00:22:57 -0500

Tuesday was a wonderful day!
I had to take my Powerbook for a keyboard replacement to my usual repair
shop, which is almost an hour away in Virginia Beach. The high was forecast
to be 62F (17C), so I wore long pants and long-sleeved shirt, but left my
feet bare. Usually I don't drive so far without shoes, in case something
wierd happens, but this time I left myself no "out."

After I dropped off the computer, the repair lady said they'd try to finish
it that day. (I thought, "I certainly hope so! I was planning on staying in
the area to pick it up!")

While I waited, I went to nearby Barnes & Noble, a superbookstore with
Starbucks coffee. I waited in the car when I saw an employee outside the
door smoking, not wanting a confrontation before I even got inside. He
quickly went back in, and I jumped out of the car and went in, noticing the
absence of nasty signs (next door Planet Music, a CD superstore, has 3-4
inch letters on the door--added during 1996--no shirts, no shoes, don't
come in). I read books there for 40 minutes, and then purchased one, to
show that barefooters are good customers. I even had to wait for the next
available cashier, which placed me back far enough from their counters that
they could see my bare feet. No problem!

I returned, picked up my computer, and called my girlfriend to see if she'd
be home. She was going to get her hair cut, so I met her there, and waited
for her barefoot. I was pleased that 3 small boys got to see me barefoot,
though there was no reaction from them.

Later, I went with her to Revco, a chain drugstore. Four stores, all with
no problems! It was a great day; December day and never shoes (not even
bare-bottoms!).

If only the weather would stay like this!

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Christopher K Smith