I’m scrambling for a topic like I’m scrambling to find my shoes in the morning. I didn’t think I had much of a problem, but yeah, I do. I buy too many shoes and I don’t keep a lot of them. I always find something wrong with how they fit. Must’ve gotten it from childhood.

My mom would fold too-large socks under my toes. The extra fabric drove. me. crazy! She didn’t want me wearing them with the heel seam poking out above the shoe. To rectify the problem, she’d put my socks on, make sure the heel seam paired with the heel of each foot, pulled the fabric over my toes and voilà, perfectly fitting socks. I always yanked my shoes off, pulled the socks so the toe seams matched my actual toes, peeking heel seams puckering over top of the back of my shoe be damned. Such a rebel child.

Friday, a new pair of shoes I ordered arrived on my porch. This is after a week’s delay. I found them a while back, but didn’t purchase them because I opted for a pair of boots. Of course, when you’re looking for great shoes, they’re usually sold out. Should’ve bought them when I first tried them, but I may have not purchased these great boots.

I unboxed my new arrivals to wear them out to lunch. They’re the perfect athleisure shoes to complement an outfit of khaki shorts, t-shirt, and sunny spring weather. I’m sure they fit, but you never know. Something is bound to poke my feet, squeeze my toes, or cut at my ankle.

Shoe number one: there’s a security tag.

Shoe number two: another security tag.

I toss them back in the box and dig through the closet for something else. I have to send them back, how in the world can you get those things off? If I take them to any shoe store, they likely won’t remove them because I purchased them online. Surely there’s a way, I mean, we’re smart enough to send people to the moon.

A quick search and I find more than one way to remove the pin and tag. A plastic bag handle. A hammer. A knife (or saw)–nope. Not going there at all, I know my limits. A magnet.

A magnet? Do I have a strong magnet?

Affirmative.

I fool with it, to no avail. I mop floors instead. I’ll call some shoe stores and ask about removing the tags before I waste time driving all over town. I check the shoes to purchase another pair in the same style and color. Out of stock. Sheesh!

I try the plastic bag method. If I keep twisting, I’ll slice through my hand.

I try the magnet again. I listen for a faint click. Is that it?I pull, keeping the magnet on the tag. The pin slipped up one notch. I gently twist. There it is, another little click. I pull. Twist. Pull.

Out comes the pin and the shoe is free. I successfully free the second shoe; I did it! I try on my shoes and they’re keepers. Of course, I had a cart full of alternatives in case these had to go back.

Words of advice: keep a strong magnet on your fridge for pesky security tags that make it past security.