I’d say I pull of wearing my Converse Chuck Taylor’s with any attire. I’ve worn them for work and play, with casual clothes and in suits. They are my go-to shoes for whatever I am doing. However I recall one time in my life when my Converse shoes just didn’t work with what I was wearing.
When I was stationed at Kings Bay, Georgia I had my own dorm room but I had to share the bathroom with my neighbor, it’s called having a suitemate. You just had to remember your key when you went to the bathroom because the door to the room locked when it was closed.
I never walked into the bathroom barefoot, the thought was just disgusting to me. When I had to shower I wore a pair of bathroom sandals I had, but when I was just using the bathroom I would just throw on whatever pair of shoes I had close to the door.
One day when I got off work, I changed into my usual evening apparel, no shirt and just my boxers. June’s a hot month in Georgia; I did whatever I could to keep cool. When nature called I grabbed my phone, because it’s boring in the bathroom, and threw on my pair of Chuck’s sitting by the door.
After I finished my business in the bathroom and reached for my key, I realized I had forgotten the essential tool for opening my door. Wearing only my boxers and a red pair of Converse shoes I realized I was in trouble.
I sent a mass text to a few of my friends letting them know I needed help. All I got back was “working midnight tonight, sorry.” Great I thought.
I had one other person I could call, my corporal, who happened to be my direct marine supervisor in the office I worked in.
I stared at his number in my phone for a good minute before I made the call. I had only been working in marine training office for a little over a week and didn’t want them to think this would be a regular occurrence. Still, I was in trouble and I knew marines had to help marines… I just hoped that rule carried over to a sailor working for the marines.
He answered his phone on the second ring, what an obedient marine. “Hey, what’s up” he said. “Heeyy” I said back, I wasn’t sure if I should make small talk before I asked him if he could get me someone to open my door for me. “I need a little help if you don’t mind” I said, “I’m stuck in my bathroom naked and without my room key.”
“Hahahahahaha” was all I heard back, “what do you want me to do?” he said. I asked if he could get a copy of me key but he told me only I would be able to do that with an I.D. So he said he’d bring me some clothes I could wear and head over to the building that managed the dorms.
When I heard him knock on my door I quickly opened it only to be greeted with a flash from a camera phone and laughter.
The next day at work my mishap was the talk of the office and became the running joke of the training department. When I look back on it, the whole thing was funny and a story I frequently tell. I always say I’m just glad I decided to keep my boxers on that day.
