From a Saturday at 3:30 p.m. until a Friday at 10:00 p.m., I wore one pair of shoes, if I wore any shoes at all
In The Bahamas
Rainbow®️ Sandals
Rainbows as they are commonly called
©️™️®️
#summerisaverb™️
Like probably millions since 1972, I have worn Mr. Longley’s Laguna Beach garage’s product of leather and nylon with supported arches and a touch of rubber on the sole.
For a week, as I tanned my toes in the Abacos, these shoes were all I wore.
In the water.
On the land
In every restaurant.
At every store.
From Pelican Cay to Great Guana and all points in between
I refrained from Rainbows in the airports, because, well, closed toed shoes are better
What shoe is more versatile
more recognizable
more collegiate
more beach
more dock
more pool
more boat
more sands
more suds
more surf
more dude
more DUDE
more outdoors
more indoors
more inshore
more offshore
more wearable 10 months of of the year in these parts
more wearable 12 months out of the year in these parts
more tan lined
more calloused prior to breaking in the nylon
more perfect
Last summer, over the 4th of July, someone took my pair and I took someone else’s at Pawley’s Island. Almost immediately, I knew they weren’t my Rainbows.
Still showing a little Bahamian white sand dust and place where tanned toes have left an imprint.
I need to sharpen that mower blade, too.
I knew they weren’t mine, as Rainbows conform to the individual owner’s feet almost as well as Birkenstocks
So, on July 6, 2021, I hightailed it to the local Rainbow retailer and bought a new pair
They are shown above after almost a year’s worth of wear
They still have the writing on the bottom of the soles. The leather is just starting to get to that perfect place of give. I will wear these until they fall to shreds, or, rather, until the tread on the soles becomes so slick that I will skid on any wet surface. That’s the true sign that it’s time to make another Rainbow connection
And, to say that these shoes are markers of a certain culture, well, they are. Totally, dude.
I judge people by shoes. Really. I can tell a lot from what a person has on her or his feet. It’s a thing.
If I see another pair of Rainbows, then I know that’s probably my people. And my peoples’ peoples
Your Rainbows shall be my Rainbows
Whatever thou wearest, I, too, shall wear
I still wonder who has my pair from Pawleys
Because they are my people
(Apologies to Ruth)
G. Hamlin O’Kelley is an RCS contributor and a fine gentleman. We’re lucky to have his work grace our pages.
