THESE BOOTS
The Column 9-8-24
“These boots are made for walking and that’s just what they’ll do, one of these days these boots are going to walk all over you.” (Nancy Sinatra)
As I was growing up in the 60’s there were two things that made those (pre air-conditioning) summers in Phoenix more bearable: The countless hours we spent at the public pool, and walking over to the DQ for a summertime treat.
In those days they hadn’t created Blizzards yet, which was fine because my personal favorite was the Dilly Bar. In 1966 the one within walking distance from my street even had a jukebox, and the only reason I know the year is because me and my friends would ALWAYS play the same two songs.
“Snoopy vs. the Red Baron” & “These Boots are Made for Walking”
At our age, none of us knew anything yet about broken hearts and unfaithful lovers, but at the time, Nancy Sinatra not only looked cool, she made us all feel like nobody better mess with us!
As it turns out, it would actually be another 25 years before I got my own pair of boots. And guess what? Still have them! In fact, the picture at the top of today’s column is not only my first pair of boots, the men at Shepherd of Life Lutheran Church had them custom made for me as a surprise shortly after we moved to Texas.
Over 30 years later I still wear them and I still play poker with a lot of those same guys, including Joe Norris, who spent much of his career selling leather to boot makers and was one of the key people who helped to make it happen.
I started calling them my “Preacher Boots” and wore them to church every Sunday and to every funeral and wedding I did.
By the way, have you noticed, people seem to be having a lot more fun with footwear these days? These are one of Ruth’s favorite pairs. She loves finding colorful shoes. And the more comfortable and whimsical the better.
Our good friend, Cathy, loves her Converse tennis shoes. And another friend, Scott, has one of the largest, coolest collection of shoes you can imagine.
As you think about some of the boots or shoes you enjoy wearing, would you agree with what Forrest Gump once said….
"You can tell a lot from a person's shoes. Where the person’s going. Where they’ve been."
I’ve also noticed that I am getting a lot more nostalgic, whether it’s remembering old songs or just feeling more attached to some of the other “things” that have been with me for a long time now.
If that’s true for any of you, it would be fun to read a few of your examples in the comments.
Here’s a good example, even though you can’t see the person playing the guitar below, I’m guessing most of you immediately knew that it’s Willie Nelson. After all, he’s been playing this Martin acoustic guitar for over 50 years now.
I’ve seen Willie play “Trigger” live a couple of times and you can see why it’s unique sound comes from all those battle scars. And after playing it for countless performances, you can also see why it has become a symbol for the resilience and longevity of his life and music.
I can’t imagine how much money it would bring at auction, but by the grace of God, Willie has already decided to donate Trigger to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History upon his passing. Feels right doesn’t it.
As for my “Preachin’ Boots”. They too are looking pretty worn. Over the years, I have had them resoled twice, but I don’t think I’m going to do it again. These days, every time I wear them, they remind me of how lucky I am to still be kicking around.
Who knows, when the time comes, there might even be someone in our family who has become sentimental enough to want them.
In the meantime, here is to the hope that all of us will be blessed with the opportunity to walk a few more paths, and to make a few more memories, while listening to a few more of our favorite artists.
As you do, may the following quote by Jack Handey (remember him?) serve as a reminder to us all that it’s okay to “Chill” and to have a bit of fun along the way….
"Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you’re a mile away and you have their shoes."
Ha! As they say in my line of work: That’ll preach! And speaking of whimsy, I’ll just wrap things up here with another pair of Ruth’s shoes.
Hope you all have a wonderful September. I’m going to be doing a little more guest preaching this fall so my weekly columns might get a little sporadic, but no big deal, most weeks you already know what I’m going to say…
Changes in the seasons make me nostalgic. As the weather cools and the kids go back to school I remember all the fun I had being a PTA mom. Whomever said “the days are long and the years are short” understood nostalgia.
Yes, I do love all my Converse tennies far too much! I realized long ago that if you’re having a rough day you tend to slump down and look at the floor. Then you see your feet in those goofy shoes and you just have to look up and smile. Cheaper than booze (she tells herself as she buys another pair!)