My Spicoli's

What I'm referring to is my black and white checkered Vans. Surprise, surprise yes I have a story to tell, and once again it's probably only interesting to one person, myself. But hey it may entertain someone else, so why not. A few years ago I found out that Van's had once again released the classic checkered Vans. Which I associate with Sean Pean's character Jeff Spicoloi from the awesome movie 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High'. One day I saw one of my brothers friends wearing the shoes and was curious as to where he bought them. I was told it was at the local skate and board shop 'Orange'. The next day I head to the store to pick up a pair which was the start of my long journey to get a them. They had them, but only in size 10, 11 and 12. I'm a size 9 so I just missed out. Then it dawns on me they have 2 locations in town so I eventually found the other place, but they didn't carry the shoe. I thought I'd never get a pair, but my brothers friend said that Orange would order them if I'd ask. So that's what I did. They said they would call if they could get them. Unfortunately they never did and it was the only place in town that carried them. After that point I was on a constant look out in any skate shop for these shoes. I found them at two stores out of town, one in Edmonton and Vancouver, but once again they didn't have my size or anything close.

Now I really, really wanted them. Its funny how you can want something even more especially when you can't have it. At that point I started my internet search. At the time I didn't buy things over the internet but I wanted the shoes so badly that I was willing to do it. What I found out that Vans doesn't ship internationally which is really stupid thinking about it. Why the hell don't they ship to Canada. I did find it on a couple of sites to buy but I would have ended up paying an additional $50 for the shoes which I really didn't want to do. At that point I was starting to give up. Then my youngest brother when to Edmonton one week and I asked him to go to the one store that carried them. They only had a size 8 (I'm size 8 1/2 or 9 depending on the shoe) but I asked him to try them on and I figured that if they fit him okay then they would be fine for me. He said they fit him fine and I was so desperate to have them I told them to buy them and if they didn't fit me he could have them. I figured it was worth the risk. I got them and they were a little snug, but not so bad that I could never wear them. The next year I went back to the same store and they finally had a size 9, so b/c I've gone through such trouble just to get a pair I figured I'd buy another so when I wear out the other pair or if my feet get to big I'd have another pair. Now I found out they are readily available at West 49 and anyone in town can buy them which really suckes considering the trouble I went through. I have seen then a few times in town, but now anyone can buy them. Fuck, that pisses me off. I've also noticed that Kevin Smith wears them all the time so maybe I can call them the Smiths now. On a side note the same store in Edmonton that carried the store also has 'Fast Times' shirts so I got my oldest bro to pick up two for me.