Speaking from the same region, I’m fully on board with tennis shoes, as well as tennis; not sur if I’ve ever heard tennis runners though. But I am 1-2 generations older than you.
I have two cats; one will not touch soft (missing 2/3 of her teeth) cat food that has any sort of grain in it, the other goes bonkers when we cook potatoes or pasta, and will happily munch on Doritos.
Married 38 years so far, and I doubt we’ve made our bed that many times. I love my wife.