I grew up in Vernon and having a pair of Fluevogs was a big deal in the 80’s. I remember the pointed boots with all the buckles, I don’t remember what they were called, but I wanted them badly and couldn’t afford them.
My mother moved us out to White Rock when I was 15 and when I was around 16 – 17 years old (1989 – 1990), I could finally buy my first pair of Fluevogs. A friend of mine and I ventured on over to the Granville store, which was also across from the underground clothing store.
The Fluevogologist was very kind and treated us well. I wanted to try on the pointed shoes with the buckle as I couldn’t afford the boots. My Fluevogologist brought them over and then tried to get me to try on the square tipped shoes like the ones he was wearing. I tried to tell him nicely that I didn’t like them…. He then said that it was his own design, which confused me until one of the other Fluevogologists told him he had a phone call. They called out “John, your wife is on the phone”… OMG I NEARLY DIED! I whispered to my friend “I just told John Fluevog that I didn’t like his design!” I was embarrassed, my anxiety through the roof and my hands started shaking, but I did my best to play it cool!
John didn’t skip a beat and asked if he could pin one of his angel pins onto my jacket. I said he could pin it on the inside, which he did. I went to pay for my shoes and I remember them costing $82 then. I no longer have them but I still have the angel pin that John pinned on my jacket. Sadly, the friend who I had gone to the store with became an angel herself a few years later, but I’ll always have this memory.
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