I got the walking blues. \u00a0After six years, my favorite pair of hiking boots took their last steps. \u00a0These boots have carried me across the street, across the country, and across the world. \u00a0I have hiked with them in New Jersey, Vermont, New York, New Hampshire, Maine, North Carolina, Utah, Nevada, California, Germany, France, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Australia and Tasmania. \u00a0They supported me when I worked for four summers as a janitor, giving me my footing as I hauled heavy desks and office furniture up and down flights of stairs. \u00a0They took me up and over mountains when I worked in the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont. \u00a0Last summer we hiked ten 4,000 footers in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. \u00a0Together we hiked the Long Trail, and they stayed strong even when my knees could not. \u00a0These boots were made for walking.<\/p>\n
Sadly, my boots met their match in the lava rock desert of the Eagle Lake Field Office. \u00a0Stumbling over loose rocks and sage brush, the soul of my boots was ripped apart. \u00a0I did the best I could, buying a tube of Gorilla Glue and trying desperately to keep them in one piece. \u00a0But when your soul is broken, there is no going back. \u00a0The soul of my boot ripped apart once again the next day. \u00a0I looked down at my dusty boots and decided that this was really the end.<\/p>\n
Today, my new boots arrived in the mail. \u00a0They feel stiff and clunky on my feet, but I know that in time we will get along. \u00a0I hope that they carry me just as far as my old boots did. \u00a0As for my trusty old pair, I have a plan. \u00a0There is a tree on the side of Highway 395 near Reno that is home to hundreds of old pairs of shoes. \u00a0Different colors, styles, sizes, all strung up in the tree by their laces. \u00a0Next time I pass that tree, I will hoist my boots up into it. \u00a0There they can finally rest and reflect on where they’ve been.<\/p>\n
Whatever you do, take care of your shoes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I got the walking blues. \u00a0After six years, my favorite pair of hiking boots took their last steps. \u00a0These boots have carried me across the street, across the country, and across the world. \u00a0I have hiked with them in New … Continue reading