When you live in a small town long enough things change. You might, for example, write a blog on observations you’ve made that highlight the differences between small town living and city life. But over time your senses of the differences become dulled. This isn’t a bad thing (see there, denial is the first sign), it’s just that you realize that your lifestyle is changing (followed shortly thereafter by justification).
Today’s observation comes in the form of footwear. My first pair of hiking boots were about 7 years old and as pristine as new when we moved to our small town. In 6 months I realized how quickly rugged terrain eats boots. Every year since arriving I’ve had to replace my boots.
I looked at my new boots – all pretty and clean – and I knew the life they were condemned to for the next year. They will be warn, torn, very dirty and have the laces replaced at least twice by this time next year. They will have many miles on them, both the bottoms and the tops. And that’s when I realized that something small had changed in me.
Next to my old boots, the new boots look like church going shoes (HELLO?!!). Yeah, I could wear my old boots for regular stuff like working in the yard and wear my new boots to nicer events (This from the guy who used to wear a coat, tie and Florsheim shoes to work every day?). Then I snapped out of it. The voice of reason came back and I’ll be wearing my hush puppies to church. No worries, I’m OK. I’m not even sure how such an idea entered my head. I am sure it won’t happen again… but they really do look too nice for working in the mud.