Driving around the city of Atlanta many if not most days of the week is a man named Jim Prible.
Prible is one cool cat. He lives in an old house in the city’s historic Cabbagetown neighborhood (snagged cheap before the 1996 Olympic property boom), plays guitar in The Smiths cover band and is a small business owner. I met Jim because he gave me a job. In fact, it was the last job I had before hanging up my hat and putting up my boots to be a stay-at-home dad.
The business is called Snake in the Grass, and we mowed lawns, planted flowers and spread mulch and pine straw in yards of some of the best neighborhoods in and around Hotlanta. You really get to know a person when you spend eight to 10 hours a day together, most of it in the cab of a truck navigating between job sites. I often look back fondly on that job and think I would be happier if I was back outside, earning an honest day’s wage in the sun.
As the temperatures creep up again for the summer, I realize that it is not the job I’m nostalgic for, but the conversations with Jim while we drove around Atlanta. One such conversation came to mind recently thumbing through a magazine and I came across a short piece on the wearing of flip flops in public, particularly by men. Once limited to the beach or poolside, the ultra-casual footwear is now the go-to for many people no matter the time of day or event.
Jim and I had this topic thoroughly fleshed out more than a decade ago, and we got little to no publicity for it.
“Do you wear flip flops in public?” Jim asked one day as we were loading mowers, weed eaters and other equipment onto the trailer. I don’t remember what prompted the question.
“Only at the beach,” I answered.
He agreed and as we traveled to the next job, we listed out several reasons as to why one should always be donned with proper foot attire. All the reasons were centered around being prepared for the worst. For example: What if you needed to save a baby from a burning building? Can’t do that in flip flops. What if you had to fight off an attacker or defend someone in a brawl? You need not have your toes hanging out. That’s a weak spot. What if you needed to quickly evacuate a building or flee a dangerous scenario? Flip flops do not allow for speed or agility.
Finally, and most importantly, no one wants to see your feet, so confine them to enclosed shoes.
I’ve yet to read the aforementioned magazine article, so I’m not aware of the author’s stance, but I’m sure he or she doesn’t consider fist fights and rescuing children in their argument. No matter what I learn though, I’ll keep my boots on. Just in case.
You can reach Kyle Dominy at k.l.dominy@gmail.com or write to 115 South Jefferson St. Dublin, Ga. 31021.
