An Open Love Letter to my Shoes
My Birkenstocks have been with me for 4 or 5 years. They’ve been worn almost everyday because they are completely molded to my feet and versatile for almost all weather conditions. Sun? yes. Rain? sure. Snow? why not. As the sole has been worn away they become more slippery but ever more comfy. By now at my heels the sole is gone and the cork layer is wearing thin but I can’t justify throwing them away.
I walked local trails, high school hallways, musical rehearsals, track meets, cross country meets, airports, and road trips. They’ve touched the soil of the United States, Italy, Ireland, Germany, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and Costa Rica. I was 15 when I first put them on and at 20 I can’t seem to take them off. These shoes have been with me throughout the most transformative time in my life thus far. My Birks have seen 2 relationships, high school graduation, choosing a college, making lifelong friends in Pisgah and have brought me to my junior year in college.
Though these milestones are impressive and the list of places are even more so it’s the small moments too. Slipping them on to walk the dog, feeling relief from fancy heels as I upgrade to my Birks, throwing them on to dash out the door to see a friend, and having little cousins try them on to measure their growth against mine.
I didn’t think I’d feel as sentimental as I do about my Birks until their replacement came. These new ones are not yet molded to my feet and have only been to Connecticut so they pale in comparison to their predecessor. I guess I never realized how much memory is carried within those shoes and just how many moments of my life they were a part of. Even though the leather is ripped and the sole is almost gone I’ll continue to wear them. They might just live at home in an easy retirement where they’ll occasionally go on a short walk on a sunny day. I may take them back to school for the thrill of an adventure every once in a while. Perhaps Vermont will be their final resting place where there’s croquet games and boats galore.
Looking at the amount of adventures my old Birks hold I can’t wait to see what my new ones will be a part of. What new country will I travel to? Who will I meet next? Where will my shoes take me?
Adventurers, give that pair of old faithful shoes a little TLC today, open that atlas, and step towards a new experience!