By now, most of you know about my award-winning shoe story. And the fact that I believe shoes are very important, not as fashion, but for comfort. Any of you who have or still suffer from foot pain know what I am saying. Those of us who have found a profession that requires standing, and/or walking knows the importance of a good, comfortable pair of shoes. If they happen to be stylish, you certainly may have earned some bonus points.
Here are interesting shoe stories and facts:
The Shoe Corner and the Legendary Shoe Tree are both located in Indiana. The Shoe Corner is located at 109th Street and Calumet in St. John, Indiana. People throw all kinds of shoes there, then periodically, someone clears it up. But more shoes keep appearing. Summer is the best time to visit. If you go, take a pair of shoes to contribute. The Shoe Tree is quite different. Anyone who successfully ensnares a pair of shoes in the tree branches will be endowed with good fortune! It turns out that former Boston Celtic great Larry Bird has a pair of shoes hanging high above.
Legendary Shoe Tree
Many other states also have shoe trees. Located on the border of Idaho and Washington, I have seen the famous Priest Lake Shoe Tree, on my way from Spokane to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Locally, San Diego boats the Shoe Tree on Morley Field in Balboa Park. Most of you thought the main attraction was the San Diego Zoo. Rumor has it that the first pair of shoes throw up into the tree were meant to celebrate a hole in one in a close match of Frisbee golf.
Priest Lake Shoe Tree
Arizona, just about 30 miles from the California border, stand Parker, AZ and its Rice Shoe Tree. Called Rice because it is located near the uninhabited town of Rice, the tamarisk tree was slowly choked to death by the deluge of shoes. The tree would not die, but did suffer TWICE from arson!!!
Leave it to a prairie state like Nebraska to convert a fence into a Shoe Fence a few miles east of Northport, NE. Some so-called experts view the old shoe as an old farmer’s trick to protect the wood from rotting. Of course, if the shoe from the stinky feet of Frank Costanza (George’s father, played by Jerry Stiller), it may have stopped this tradition in its stinky tracks.
Shoe Fence
New York must raise its ugly foot with a cluster of five shoe trees in Lyndonville. The Sneaker Trees of Lyndonville contain five maples on Morrison Road. The idea is to make a wish, then toss your sneakers into one of the trees. Your wish comes true as long as the sneakers catch. They say the best wish is a wish for a new pair of sneakers!!!!
I conclude with yet another shoe story, that I in fact, told today at the clinic. I went on a golf vacation to Spain and Portugal right after 9/11. I saw a great pair of golf shoes at the famous Valderama Golf Club in
Sotogrande, Spain. But, thinking better of spending the money, I passed on a beautiful brown leather pair of golf shoes that were so unique. Well, I went back a year later, on my way to Gibraltar and Morocco. Guess what? They only had one pair of those fabulous shoes left, and it was in MY SIZE!!!!!
Valderama
I welcome shoe stories from any of you.
