Alaskan Tennis Shoes

..shuffle around, drop my bag, drop my coat, pick up my bag and my coat, make my way down the tiny airplane aisle. My head is a centimeter from the ceiling of the aircraft. 12...13...14... oh good. I plop down. shove bag under chair, shover coat next to bag, find book, find music. heavy sigh.
"I see you got your Alaskan tennis shoes there."
"wha..?"
"Your alaskan tennis shoes..."
"hahaha, yeah."
looking down at my xtra tuffs, the characteristic Alaskan trademark.
"I retired mine"
"Yeah, mine are still alive, though it doesn't seem right without those fish scales."
"Where you from?"
"Juneau, you?"
"We used to live in Juneau, just moved out of there a couple of years ago."
"Oh really? My parents are making to move out too, thats why I'm headed this way."
"Oh, what's your name?"
"Hahnlen"
"huh, I don't think I know it..."
DING "we've reached out cruising altitude, feel free to use any portable electronics you've brought on board."
"well, I'll let you get to that book there."
"yeah, I'll let you to yours."
Headphones. Book. another sigh. Settling into my Alaskan tennis shoes.