Musings from Lot 12
A good pair of shoes is oh so hard to get rid of. I am not a shoe collector in the true sense of the word like say my sister or my about to give birth daughter-in-law. They both COLLECT shoes. I on the other hand get a pair of shoes and if they are great shoes love (wear) them to death. My Doc Martins are such a pair of shoes. Hugh sent them to me when he lived in England in the '90s. I don't think that I had ever heard of Docs before that but as soon as I put them on I knew that I had a keeper. They were a pair of 4 hole dress shoes, not the up to your knee Docs that you see from time to time. They were so comfortable! I could go to a DU banquet, spend on evening on my feet and not have sore tired feet when I got home. They looked good, held a shine and above all they were comfortable. Did I mention tha it seemed like they would last forever? A couple of years ago I looked for a new pair at Val's urging but the new ones were not the same. The company had almost doubled the thickness of the sole and they did not look or feel right on these late middle-aged feet so I hung on. Sunday when I went to change my shoes after church I discovered that the leather on the outside of the left shoe right at the sole has split for probably 5 or 6 cm. I mean I could stick a finger right through. Not good, in fact they are terminal. But I couldn't just throw them in the garbage in London so I packed them up and brought them home. I still have not decided how to dispose of them in a dignified manner that befits their loyalty and long service. Just as worrisome is what am I going to replace them with. I have tried twice this week to get up my nerve and drop in to a shoe store but I'm not ready yet. I need a little more time to mourn the demise of a very faithful and comfortable pair of shoes! A good pair of shoes is something to be treasured!