Someone Else's Shoes

Appreciation for All That Came Before

I've bought a few pairs of shoes on eBay before. They are, for the most part, very lightly used and are "like new." That is, except for the pair of casual dressy Cole Haan's that I bought recently, despite them being listed as being in great condition. They are black leather wingtips with white soles: a great style for the new-age casual work environment. Although I'm able to afford new shoes, I like a good deal and I'm constantly seeking value, as I saw in these shoes listed for $35 compared to the $135 or so that they retail for.So, I finally decided that today is the day I'll wear these shoes to the office. I put them on, they're the right size, and I head out the door. I get about 50 steps outside of my apartment and think, "Wait a minute, something about these shoes feels kind of weird." As it turns out, these were definitely not lightly used nor were they "like new." Although they still looked to be in good shape, their former owner must have had about a hundred pounds on me, as there were some fairly pronounced creases in the soles. It might have been my first and last time wearing them, and their next stop might be in my next Goodwill box.Besides the fate of my new used shoes, it made me think about a few things: What prompted the last owner to get rid of them? Had he outgrown the casual dressy style? Did they wind up in a Goodwill box of his own, only to have a random eBay reseller buy them for $5 to sell them to me for $35? Is that what will happen to them again, and they'll be twice-used shoes?One question that I asked myself stuck with me: What happened in his life on the day that he last wore them? Who knows except for him, and based on my last essay [Essay 13: The Last Time: What If You Knew?], he probably didn't even consciously know that it was the last time he'd be wearing them. If they're anything like the shoes of my past, they gradually make their way to the back of my closet, only to be looked at again until it's time to decide whether they're going into the Goodwill box or not.There is, however, a non-zero chance that something intriguing or otherwise memorable happened on that day. This is where it gets captivating because anything you can imagine theoretically could have happened. What if they were worn at his wedding? That'd be kind of weird to wear white soles in a wedding, but it's still possible. What if they stepped foot in his girlfriend's house for the first time or onto a pier where he had his first kiss with someone? What if they were worn at a couple's first dancing lessons? The possibilities are endless, and that's what makes it fascinating.The same logic can be applied to anything that is worn, such as an heirloom piece of jewelry. I wear my great grandfather's gold and ruby ring because I'm named after him and because it's immensely intriguing to think that a small physical item can symbolically tie together two or more lives from many decades or, in some cases, over a century ago. It is the genuine curiosity and appreciation for what came before you that drives you to create your own experiences with the things in your life that may find their way to others' lives one day.