How Can You Be Sad with Red Shoes?

I went back and forth on my number 10 thankful post, as it is an object and in some ways I felt like that was missing the point, but when I thought about the happy feelings that these objects bring me and I had no choice!
So my number #10 item that am thankful for is my red shoes. A beautiful shiny, deep red pair of flats that came into my life exactly at the moment that I needed them and I am still thankful for that.
Just over 4 years ago I was going through one of the worst times of my life. An almost 8 year relationship ended suddenly in a very hurtful way and I was feeling the worst I had ever felt. I learned what the term "broken heart" actually means and I had fallen into a very bad place. After over a week of hiding out in my apartment I made a trip to the mall in an attempt at some retail therapy.
It felt strange to be around the people and the noise and I suddenly felt very small and very vulnerable but I was determined to stick it out and wandered down to a quieter end of the mall where there is a Payless Shoe store. I wandered around for a couple minutes, and was about to leave when I saw them. They were the perfect shade of red, not too orange and not too pink, a beautiful deep red. They were shiny, they were flats and they were on sale.
I pulled them off the shelf and kicked off my flip flops and stepped into the shoes. They fit perfectly and standing there in old jeans, a tank top and hair in a messy pony tail I felt special with those shoes on. For the first time in over a week, I felt a little brighter, my chest, that had felt so heavy when I arrived felt a bit lighter. I stood there with a smile on my face for the first time in days adn thought "how can you feel sad with red shoes?" I knew right away, I had to have them and hurried to pay for them before I changed my mind. I couldn't have paid more then about $13 for those shoes and maintain they were worth every penny!
I carefully picked out my Monday outfit, making sure I could wear my shoes and all my co workers noticed my new shoes immediatly, they were the talk of the morning. Did they solve all my problems? Of course not, it was a long few months before I began to feel normal again, but they always made me smile. Any time I was wearing them, when I looked down and saw them there, I smiled, and 4 years later I still smile when I wear them. I was wearing them Thursday during a rough part of the afternoon, but when I looked down and saw my special red shoes, I smiled and I was thankful for that.

My number 11 thing that I am thankful for is Friday. I am thankful for Friday. I am thankful that such a day exists. A day that ends leaving you feeling the most free and liberated you feel all week. I'm thankful for the weight that feels like it's been lifted the moment I remove my badge. I'm thankful for evenings watching Fringe and the Soup while sharing a beer with Isaac. I'm thankful for Friday evenings at the Alamo Drafthouse, having a beer and pizza while catching a new move. I'm thankful for Fridays with Carlina and Isaac, eating pasta dinners and watching Doctor Who. I know my Friday isn't everyone's Friday, I did retail for many years and I remember Friday dread as well when preparing for a busy weekend, but I'm thankful that now I have my Friday back.