The Boys
Forrest Gump: “Momma always says there’s an awful lot you could tell about a person by their shoes. Where they’re going. Where they’ve been. I’ve worn lots of shoes. I bet if I think about it real hard I could remember my first pair of shoes.”
Okay, I might not be able to remember my first pair of shoes, but I definitely still remember about my faithful running/ gym shoes. I still have them.
As I was sitting in Mihaylo’s Hall lounge area waiting for my friends, I realized that I needed new running shoes. I had these guys since I was a sophmore in high school. I’m a senior in college now. I just refuse to throw them away. We’ve been through a lot you see?
When I first joined the water polo team, my shoes were there. When I joined the swim team? They were there. When I got kicked off the swim team? they were there. When I got admitted back into the team? They’re still there. Spring training in Hawaii? all the way up Diamond Head. First day of college? Heck yeah. Hiking? of course. Indonesia? Iya . Thailand? Chai. Malaysia? Ya. Hong Kong? Shi. Japan? Hai. You get the point. They’ve been everywhere with me. They literally have morphed and molded into an exact fit for my feet. When I put these babies on, the world feels alright.
Now when I look at them, I see a weary but friendly face. You can’t see it from the picture, but I definitely went through half an inch of sole. The sole itself, is so smooth, I can literally slide on any type of floors with them (take that Jerry McGuire). In fact, on my last hiking trip with Eugene, I almost slid down a whole entire hill. Not too mention I’ll risk hurting my back if I keep wearing them. The shoe strings are so stretched out, it doesn’t matter how many times I loop and knot, I’ll still end up with an oversize bunny-ears.
I’m sure some of you guys have things that have been with you through thick and thin. You can’t help but develop sentimental values to these things.
I guess this is just my way of saying good bye to them. But you know what? I will never throw them away. I didn’t say I won’t get new shoes, I said I won’t throw these guys away. Call me weird. Call me disgusting. Call me a pack rat. Whatever. I love my shoes. Me and the boys? We go way back.
-I’m still here.
