Sole Survivors

Right around this holiday time in 1999 I strolled into Red's Shoe Barn in Dover, New Hampshire. Red's is just what you might imagine it to be. The building is red and looks a little like a barn, but inside is aisles upon aisles of discount shoes. I had just moved there at the beginning of the month and went into the store looking for a pair of winter boots. I never did find any boots that I liked, but while I was there I ended up purchasing a pair of brown dress shoes. For me, shoes are not an impulse buy or a fashion accessory. The extent of my shoe closet is black dress shoes, brown dress shoes, golf shoes, sneakers, and slippers... that's it. As you can tell, if I bought a pair of brown shoes it was clearly because I needed them.

The years and miles have taken their toll on those size 9's from Red's. They've seen too many basketball and hockey games to count and been x-rayed at airport security checkpoints across the country. They've endured temperatures well below zero and above 100, and survived both blizzards and downpours. They've attended at least 18 different conventions in 14 different states and two countries, funerals for people who left far too early in life, and one memorable evening meeting former President Bill Clinton. The suede has been stained by beer spilled over a raucous laugh with friends and the thick rubber soles have been worn traversing miles of hallways and concourses. Through it all, these Dexter's took everything in stride and bounced back the next day for more.

But the time had finally come to retire these always reliable friends of the feet. When I brought them home that wintry night, I never would have imagined the places they would go or the experiences they would have. This past weekend I made my way to the Rockport Outlet Store and purchased a new pair of brown shoes. I can only hope that this pair has as many memorable (and hopefully joyous) miles in them as my last purchase.