Nostalgia: a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.
We’ve all experienced something nostalgic in our lives. Some on more occasions than others. It’s one of those hidden gems that lowkey evoke one of the better feelings in life. A place of comfort—familiarity with its presence.
It was the summer of 2002, and my mother took my siblings and I back-to-school shopping. We were browsing the go-to shops for sneakers—Foot Locker, Footaction, Just for Feet, Athlete’s Foot, etc., looking for kicks that could withstand a year of elementary abuse.
My mom seemed dead set on taking advantage of Foot Locker’s iconic 2 for $89.99 promotion (can’t even blame her), but my older brother—coming in just as clutch as His Airness himself—managed to divert her attention to a particular pair of Air Jordans that had just hit shelves.
The Air Jordan 9, in the underrated “Olive” colorway, brings me back to that moment, when I was entering the 5th grade.
Now, I don’t know how he did it, because not only was it just one pair of sneakers, but it also cost more than the $89 bargain. I want to say that he mentioned something about it matching my school uniform…
It did not…
But nonetheless, I loved them, I had never owned a pair of Jordans before, and I wanted them. Next thing I know, we’re walking out the store, bag in hand, and I’m the proud, new owner of the Air Jordan 9 “Olive.”
I was one of the coolest kids at school. Everyone else was rocking the typical Fila, New Balance and Reeboks. Maybe even a K-Swiss here and there. But not me.
I stood out.
I had a pair of Jordans.
With all the generational athletes that have come and gone—Michael Jordan and his lineup of sneakers continue to serve as the gold standard for striking that emotional chord through apparel. Even to this day, as someone who owns close to 100 pairs of shoes, buying a pair of Jordans just feels different.
It hits different.
Not only do these sneakers look amazing, but they bring me back to a place of comfort— familiarity with its presence.
As always, thank you all so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed this little piece of nostalgia for me. Until we put the pieces together again…
Similar articles: https://pieceofthepuzzlesc.com/my-letter-to-the-air-jordan-1/
My YouTube unboxing of the Air Jordan 9 “Olive”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl8DGvrVKoA
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