The (Sometimes Annoying) Sound of Spring Is Back

I was writing a friend about this story before I even knew what I wanted to say. (Spoiler – I’m a bit older than I’d want to admit.) Except that I knew I was going to talk about flip flops. And that my first memory of them was during our first annual warm-weather pilgrimage to the local drugstore, where we could pick from a few basic colors in the sizes they had. And I would no doubt have to anticipate the pain between my first 2 toes needing a good month or 2 of “adjusting” before I and my siblings and friends could tear off in our flip flops for rest of the summer.

Thankfully, we have infinitely more and better “floptions” these days. But before I can even get to that very real, literally raw childhood memory of breaking my flip flops in, there is…

THE SOUND.

No matter where you’re testing them out, even if you’re already committed and walking oh so assuredly toward your friends for a dinner date… that smack of the heel, crack of the “flip”... how does one even describe it? The sound can be annoying, at best. Ushering in “HELLO SPRING” like nails on a chalkboard.

I guess most of us suck up the click-clack and accept it as part of the uniform AND soundtrack of spring/summer. Which would we should, honestly. Wet boardwalks, muggy morning dog strolls, brisk grocery store pit stops…no one is immune.

But more importantly – flip flops are convenient. They go with pretty much everything, even awkward bottoms. You can sport an OG rubber/foam pair or a more elegant leather version. They are to sunny days what a swimsuit is to a pool – essential. Here are five of our fave pairs of flip flops: