It's easy to get attached to things that are old and comfy, especially old shoes. I know that I should be better about it, about trading them in when they're worn and hard on my feet, but still. We get attached and that's that.
It was a gorgeous day for a walk today, as you must know if you were out and about in it. I thought about taking in that regional trail out by the Woods but knew my time today was precious and that I couldn't really do a trail walk justice. Besides, I had my work clothes on and it seems to me that walking in that neck of the woods requires a certain "uniform". If not that, at least clothes that aren't so beat from so many messy projects.
I didn't mind being, or rather, looking so beat at the track. As a matter of fact there was nobody else out there today. I think of our fast food nation and all the folks who could have really used a good walk today, even a short one, and marvelled that the track was empty. Fine by me as I don't like the crowds, but still. It was all too beautiful to be penned up inside playing games all day. Where was everybody?
So I hit the track knowing that I only had a few minutes, as I had a five o'clock supper appointment to make on Bainbridge Island. I walked fast but not too fast, just quick enough to break a sweat by the end of my march. My shoes took to that track as if they knew it intimately, and I suppose after four years they just might. Those old shoes of mine are pretty beat now. The sole is about worn through in places, the exterior rough and stained with the paints and stains of many projects gone by. There was a time when I was mighty proud of those shoes, and I suppose I still am. They get me places, always have.
I remember their predecessors. They were off road high tops, too, and by the time I traded them smooth in the sole also. I had worn them for years, in all kinds of weather and they took care of me on the most part, but if I was hard pressed to tell the truth I would have to say that they needed to be traded in because they were taking on water. Not a whole lot of fun in a state where the rainy season lasts so long. In the end I pretty much forced to unload them because they were looking to be hazardous to my health. I almost found that out the hard way one morning back in December of '05.
It was a gorgeous day for a walk today, as you must know if you were out and about in it. I thought about taking in that regional trail out by the Woods but knew my time today was precious and that I couldn't really do a trail walk justice. Besides, I had my work clothes on and it seems to me that walking in that neck of the woods requires a certain "uniform". If not that, at least clothes that aren't so beat from so many messy projects.
I didn't mind being, or rather, looking so beat at the track. As a matter of fact there was nobody else out there today. I think of our fast food nation and all the folks who could have really used a good walk today, even a short one, and marvelled that the track was empty. Fine by me as I don't like the crowds, but still. It was all too beautiful to be penned up inside playing games all day. Where was everybody?
So I hit the track knowing that I only had a few minutes, as I had a five o'clock supper appointment to make on Bainbridge Island. I walked fast but not too fast, just quick enough to break a sweat by the end of my march. My shoes took to that track as if they knew it intimately, and I suppose after four years they just might. Those old shoes of mine are pretty beat now. The sole is about worn through in places, the exterior rough and stained with the paints and stains of many projects gone by. There was a time when I was mighty proud of those shoes, and I suppose I still am. They get me places, always have.
I remember their predecessors. They were off road high tops, too, and by the time I traded them smooth in the sole also. I had worn them for years, in all kinds of weather and they took care of me on the most part, but if I was hard pressed to tell the truth I would have to say that they needed to be traded in because they were taking on water. Not a whole lot of fun in a state where the rainy season lasts so long. In the end I pretty much forced to unload them because they were looking to be hazardous to my health. I almost found that out the hard way one morning back in December of '05.
I had gotten into Boise the night before. It was few days before the holidays and I was there to see the kids, do a bit of Christmas shopping, make merry. I got in late, almost too late for the season. The roads were slick with ice and it was mighty cold, black skyed, very unmerry. I found two major chain hotels standing side by side off to the side of Eagle Highway, both of them practically calling out for business. Shepherd hooks were coming out next to drag in customers. I chose the one that looked the most promising, one with a high speed internet connection off of the lobby, and got a fabulous rate just for walking in the door. My room was plush, warm and cozy. My internet connection to you fast and efficient, even if you were all the way down in Arizona. After a long, chilling ride all was well with the world.
If you remember back then I was walking fairly regularly, a real advocate of daily, long distance exercise. I got up at six the next morning, strapped on my shoes, donned my jacket and stepped outside. Almost immediately I hit black ice on the drive and started sliding. If it wasn't for a few swift moves I would have landed on my ass, maybe broken a bone or two. I took that ice rink moment as a sign that I needed new shoes, so later on that day I took the kids out Christmas shopping and one of the things we ended up getting were shoes all around. I came away with a decent pair of off trail shoes that looked smart and weren't too outrageously priced. I was happy with them then and I'm happy with them now.
Except now they look tired and ready to retire, or at least, kept home for lawn and garden work. So, what's a man to do but look around a bit and find a replacement pair. I am sure that I won't be getting in the car and doing a long drive to Boise at the outset of winter just to buy a pair of walking shoes. Circumstances have changed quite radically since that last shoe shopping excursion. For starters I won't be needing the hotel room in order to keep the peace because peace has broken out in that sector of my life in unexpected ways and secondly there is no one there at the other end of the line to write to, least ways, not on your end. My internet connect doesn't have to be quite so secure even though I have a million other folks to write to.
Yeah, I had a wonderful walk today. Funny how I was able to once again find a thread that wound it's way back to you, even if that thread was just a path that I walked along today, walked along in a pair of well worn shoes, shoes that were new back in the day when we old fashioned lovers, back in the winter, December, of 2005.
Your WHMB
If you remember back then I was walking fairly regularly, a real advocate of daily, long distance exercise. I got up at six the next morning, strapped on my shoes, donned my jacket and stepped outside. Almost immediately I hit black ice on the drive and started sliding. If it wasn't for a few swift moves I would have landed on my ass, maybe broken a bone or two. I took that ice rink moment as a sign that I needed new shoes, so later on that day I took the kids out Christmas shopping and one of the things we ended up getting were shoes all around. I came away with a decent pair of off trail shoes that looked smart and weren't too outrageously priced. I was happy with them then and I'm happy with them now.
Except now they look tired and ready to retire, or at least, kept home for lawn and garden work. So, what's a man to do but look around a bit and find a replacement pair. I am sure that I won't be getting in the car and doing a long drive to Boise at the outset of winter just to buy a pair of walking shoes. Circumstances have changed quite radically since that last shoe shopping excursion. For starters I won't be needing the hotel room in order to keep the peace because peace has broken out in that sector of my life in unexpected ways and secondly there is no one there at the other end of the line to write to, least ways, not on your end. My internet connect doesn't have to be quite so secure even though I have a million other folks to write to.
Yeah, I had a wonderful walk today. Funny how I was able to once again find a thread that wound it's way back to you, even if that thread was just a path that I walked along today, walked along in a pair of well worn shoes, shoes that were new back in the day when we old fashioned lovers, back in the winter, December, of 2005.
Your WHMB
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