They're an extension of your body

That old pair of shoes that you wear whenever you can have adapted over the months (years?) to the shape of your feet, the weight of your body, the intricacies of your gait. They might as well be grafted on. No one else could possibly wear them. Of course, no one else could possibly want them.

We keep them because they are comfortable. We feel bouncy and alive in them. Our feet are warm and protected. We trust these shoes of ours.

Most of us cannot wear shoes such as these to work or even out socially. But on those occasions when it is remotely acceptable, they are on our feet. We love our old comfy shoes.

We loathe the idea of breaking in a new pair, conveniently forgetting that even these beloved old ones were once the upstart shoes fresh from the box, crammed with paper, and needing lacing.

My solution: move the comfy shoes to chore duty. They won't be subjected to ridicule by those who would throw them out. They'll prove their worth on the lawn of battle. After a year or so of service there, they can either be bronzed or tossed in the trash with an appropriate ceremony. I have an excellent copy of Taps, if you're interested. Those shoe bronzing places charge a lot more for adult sized shoes. Plus, my mantle can't hold anymore.

(the shoes above, belong to "heavylift" from flickr.)