This morning in church, I felt something at my feet. I looked down and a sole stared back up.
Would I be able to exit gracefully with my shoes literally falling apart?
Before someone starts a GoFundMe, I do have new shoes coming that I ordered online on the 15th. They are tan Rothy’s flats that will be ideal for church, but have yet to arrive. Today was too cool for sandals, too warm for boots, and I’m too proper to wear sneakers to church, so I pulled out an old pair of flats I’ve owned since the ’10s— outdated but still serviceable, I thought.
I taught School Sunday and was listening to the sermon on false teachers when I noticed some brown coating flaking off the flats. Boy, these shoes are getting ugly, I thought.
Then the sole came off, leaving only the soft inner layer on the bottom. The glue had just given up all at once.
How embarrassing. Fortunately, I was sitting to next to Amy, who would understand.
So as soon as the service ended, I said, “Life hack for you, Amy— don’t get really old shoes out of the closet and wear to church.” She laughed and we started talking about shoes.
Bettina came over to talk with us and I showed her the sole, too. I considered leaving it on the floor but our church cleaners have enough dirt to deal with already, so I discreetly tucked the sole into my backpack.
I left right after that, and it was a good thing too. I was nearly at the door when I felt the second sole let loose. I scooped up sole number two and stuffed it into my backpack and quickly left, the gravel in the parking lot poking the bottom of my feet.
The tracking number for my new shoes shows the pair has been stranded in Manassas, VA since 2:45 a.m. on Thursday. ETA is Friday. Will they really take eight days to travel one hundred and fifty miles?
No matter when they arrive, this Thanksgiving I will be thankful for shoes.
What a fun read!