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I used to be cool. A long time ago. Like in the 1980s. Atari and skate boards, I was so into the Beat, Aztec Camera, Split Endz and such, skinny ties, Elvis Costello, you know what I’m saying. Before I got Mod, I was in a Jethro Tull Cover Band. I know that’s sick, isn’t it? Dang.

You get old. You get old, things start going South, you start going to work all the time, and here come the wife, the kids, little league, and retirement. All in a flash– an instant. WHAT HAPPENED? Look, a man’s got to mourn his past a little– every now and then. Doesn’t mean I want to go back in time, I love my family, you know. . . I just want to look over my shoulder and see my old stinky tennis shoes on the floor next to my pile of semi-clean clothes. For like, one second. It’s not much to ask for, is it?

Anyway– I have found a way to reach back to my glory days, without acting like a kid again– Custom Vans. Come on, doesn’t that just warm your cockles? Seriously. You can build your own Vans! First pick which style you want– the “Old Skools” or the slip-ons. You can go Mod checker board, or solids, or multi-color. They even have graphics, including the good old skull and cross bones, camo, and M.C. Esher-style blocks. If you know your way around a simple paint program, you’ll have no problem designing your Vans! I made some Rude Boy red and black checker board for myself you know, keeping it simple. I designed some for my gal so we could go bowling! Who says you can’t be young again?