Member-only story
Accidental Attachment
Is it really just a pair of shoes?
Everyone has something they never leave home without. Most are just things we need to get through the day. This may include a pocketknife, phone, wallet, keys, lipstick, bubblegum etc. Other times, people carry things that have significant meaning for them. Or if they don’t carry it, they keep possession of it for a long time. Some people wear good luck charms, others have a lucky pair of socks, comic collection or trophy they wouldn’t leave behind in a fire.
Having never enjoyed the burden of carrying things around, I’ve kept no attachments.
Most never leave the house without their shoes. They are necessary to prevent splinters and to keep from slicing your feet on gravel and broken glass. Public signs remind us that the lack of a shirt and shoes will deny us service. Oddly enough, those signs never mention pants.
There is one particular pair of shoes that has kept up with me for four solid years. They are not ordinary walking shoes, but a pair of racing spikes. They’ve been on my feet when I’ve raced in cross country and track. They have had no other meaning other than to provide traction.
However, I’ve always convinced myself that they can endure “just one more year,” for many years now. I’ve considered replacing them, but never managed to.
