As readers of this blog know, I advocate that guys wear boots. Readers also know that I am from a huge family. I have not one, but three great nephews who are entering high school this year.

A week ago at a family reunion for the marriage of my kid-bro cousin, I struck up a conversation with my great nephews about their thoughts of entering high school this year. One of them said something like, “I wish I could be cool — like the biker you are, Uncle.”

Well, that was nice. So I asked,

… “what will you be wearing to school? The usual jeans-n-sneakers?”

I could tell from the looks on their faces that they hadn’t really thought much about it.

So I suggested, “hey, if you want to be cool when you go back to school next week (actually, today August 24), how about wearing a pair of biker boots?”

I could see the wheels turning in their heads. “Boots, what kind? Where would I get them? Wouldn’t they be hard to wear? Aren’t boots expensive? My Dad says that they make your feet hurt.”

Ah fiddlesticks… so many questions, myths, and misinformation.

Suffice it to say that we worked it out. I answered all of their questions, and more. Together, we made a road trip after work last Monday to a “sorta” western wear store in the Maryland ‘burbs. Unfortunately, they do not have much of a selection. My great nephews tried on some boots, but didn’t like them very much (except one GN liked a pair of Dan Post cowboy boots.) They did not make a purchase.

Not to be daunted, and since these kids have their smartphones glued to the ends of their hands, I had them do some exploring on the websites of some reputable on-line boot vendors. In about an hour over dinner, they each found a pair of boots that intrigued them.

One GN really liked the look of tall Chippewa oil-tanned engineer boots. Classics. Uncle BHD approves.

Another GN liked the look of Chippewa harness boots. Also classics, but also hard to find. Uncle BHD approves also (as he pointed to his feet, showing the Chippewa harness boots he was wearing.)

The third GN was looking more at cowboy boots. He was the one who took a liking to a pair of Dan Post boots in the store. He settled on a pair of Dan Post boots that were on close-out, but were a great buy. Brown ostrich leg vamp (foot) and leather shafts. Classic cowboy boots, too. Uncle BHD approves.

I asked them about how they were going to pay for the boots if they wanted to get them. One GN says, “no problem, I can use my (whatever technology) pay account”. The other two said, “I have to use Mom’s credit card.” They saved the file for the boots that they wanted and said that they would ask to order the boots when they got home.

We parted ways, hugs-all-around and I said that I expected updates.

Then I got busy with work and dealing with my spouse’s situation with his mother, taking another road trip to Pittsburgh this past weekend to get caregivers on board and take my spouse home.

When I checked my email after I arrived home, I had messages from my sisters who are parents of these three great nephews.

One sister said, “(name) sent you several texts. Don’t you answer?” Ooops… nope, I don’t text. Receive or send. “No, I didn’t get them. What’s up?” My sister told me that she bought the tall Chippewa engineer boots for her son and they arrived on Friday. “He won’t take them off! He wore them all weekend. He loves those boots!”

Okay… one converted. Good. Next?

Another sister’s email said that she also ordered the Dan Post boots for her son, and the boots were expected some time this week. “You’ve started something, I think. (Y) can’t stop talking about his anticipation of getting those boots.”

Okay… next convert in-the-making. Good. Next?

Not having email from my third sister, I called her. “How’s (Z’s) boot situation?” Sister said that she wondered why he ordered a pair of boots. “He’s been wearing them non-stop since he got them on Thursday. Were you behind this? Well, of course you were!” Wow… those boots arrived fast, especially for hard-to-get Chippewa harness boots.

I will see these great nephews again later this week. I look forward to hearing their stories about wearing “back-to-school boots” and not being a typical clone in jeans-n-sneakers.

Life is short: wear boots to school!