What we're not...

I just bought a nice pair of Trask casual bison leather shoes that I like a lot but I think may be a little tight around the bridge of my foot.  However, it's a pretty good brand but I was astonished at the over-the-topness of their marketing that came with the card inside the shoe box- I don't disagree with the sentiment, but the lack of subtlety, nuance, and restrained couth caught me off guard.  In fact, I find it a bit embarrassing, and I think I'm going to need to send the shoes back.  (to get the real bang out of it, read it out loud in a deep tenor, and pump your right arm for emphasis at the right moments - and be sure to have an audience.)

" The story of a man who followed a river and found his dream.

We love the story about the man who followed a river and found his dream. Because it's true. Because it's not just the story of one man, it's the story of us. The story of America. A country build by people with the courage to dream and the conviction to make those dreams come true. By questioning the way it's always been done By wondering what if. And asking why not. And by knowing that there's another way. A higher road. A way that's right and real. By leading, not following. Making a mark and leaving not just footprints, but blueprints for something better.

It's a story that's still being written with bold strokes by people who are driven not by a paycheck, but by a passion for a life well lived. People who make their choices based not on simply what looks good, but on what feels right. Like Trask. Because like so many other things that are worth pursuing, they don't get old. They get better. And long after the others are relegated to the back of the closet, these are the ones you'll count on. Day by day. Year after year. A timeless style that's beyond trends, resistant to fads or fading away. An American icon that's earned its reputation one step at a time, one generation after another. It's our heritage and our story."

An American icon that's earned its reputation one step at a time…

Really?!  That's too much for me.  It's almost like it's tongue in cheek, but I think they're serious.