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Christmas Shoes - an inspirational shine.
Dec. 22nd, 2023 11:34 am(Blogger's note: This is NOT related to NewSong's "Christmas Shoes." This is more inspirational.)
Dear readers, it is a dreary, soggy Friday before in onslaught of the American Christmas Holiday.
The streets of the business district are empty save the lone "unhoused persons" trudging about the gray streets. The sky, sensing it should accessorize the dull grey stonework of the soulless old buildings of commerce, also is a bland grey. Even the twinkle of the holiday lights strewn on the trees seem more annoyed with their function than to give warmth.
It is no less depressing in the People's House of Justice, i.e. the County District Courthouse.
There are a few souls milling about. Deputy Clerks and Bailiffs executing their duties per route. Sheriff Deputies quietly patrolling in their brand new depressing grey uniforms just "phoning it in", as it were. A few lawyers all poorly dressed in non-ironed shirts and wrinkled suits attending last minute hearings before the holiday commences, and sorely regretting their career choice in Governmental service.
**
By now dear reader, you are question the premise of this post being inspirational. As the scene depicts a bleak and cheerless day in a cheerless institution amongst cheerless people.
**
Cheerless, save one stoic man.
In the one brightly lit and cheery-Cherry wood paneled corner of the Courthouse, stands a 70 year tradition where ones father and grandfather had partaken: The Shoe Shine Stand.
Here soft Christmas music plays over a hidden speakers and the gentlemen of the Stand, a man older than Time and Memoria, stands ready to shine your shoes to brilliant glow. The line was remarkable short and seeing the deplorable state of my shoes, decided that a small Christmas gift for myself was in order.
The tradition is very simple. It is two parts. The first, as your father and grandfather did in their day, you clime the small set of stairs into leather cushioned chair sitting 7 foot above the crowd and place your feet on to the peddles. Only then does the gentlemen of the Stand begins with a flourish transform dull and lifeless leather into brilliant sparkling works of refined - genteelness art.
The second part is more difficult: Listen and observe. The gentlemen of the Stand says nothing. He is of singular focus. Bearing the full force of his skill and craft upon the souls of your feet. Except now and then, his head will turn or slightly shift his gaze, suggesting your gaze should follow and you should listen. Watch and listen. Never explicitly, tacitly. Being blessed with two be-speckled - working eyes and two exceptional ears, I now posed to experience what is important.
For starters, the disheveled attorneys pass by my perch. Both are working hard reaching an agreement to keep a man out of jail and free to go home for Christmas "in the interest of Justice."
Then the Sargent of the Courthouse Watch passed by, roughly joking with the Sheriff's Deputies about getting off early and "I got you dog!" The smirks on their collective faces was priceless; including the quiet comments about their uniforms hides the blood and gunk. They seemed to take the day with stoic grace and humor.
Then a cluster of Deputy Clerks and Bailiffs passed by discuss the latest damn-foolery with a rye chuckle. Feeling the warm in their comradery.
At which moment the gentlemen of the Booth finished. Indeed, they glistened like the Bethlehem Star. I concluded my business with good humor and left. The gentlemen of the Stand imparting to me the most important lessens of the Stoic Philosophy this wholly mis-perceived morning.
The glow of my shoes matched the glow of the crowed which impressed upon me the stoic lessen. A Man's perception is not reality. If he goes deeper that what he perceives, only then will he find the facts.
And the blunt fact is, that despite the gloom and grey there is always, just underneath the surface, genuine glimmers of warmth.
And in a world that seems this year particularly grey, there is still glimmers if you are observant and listen.
Merry Christmas to you.
Dear readers, it is a dreary, soggy Friday before in onslaught of the American Christmas Holiday.
The streets of the business district are empty save the lone "unhoused persons" trudging about the gray streets. The sky, sensing it should accessorize the dull grey stonework of the soulless old buildings of commerce, also is a bland grey. Even the twinkle of the holiday lights strewn on the trees seem more annoyed with their function than to give warmth.
It is no less depressing in the People's House of Justice, i.e. the County District Courthouse.
There are a few souls milling about. Deputy Clerks and Bailiffs executing their duties per route. Sheriff Deputies quietly patrolling in their brand new depressing grey uniforms just "phoning it in", as it were. A few lawyers all poorly dressed in non-ironed shirts and wrinkled suits attending last minute hearings before the holiday commences, and sorely regretting their career choice in Governmental service.
**
By now dear reader, you are question the premise of this post being inspirational. As the scene depicts a bleak and cheerless day in a cheerless institution amongst cheerless people.
**
Cheerless, save one stoic man.
In the one brightly lit and cheery-Cherry wood paneled corner of the Courthouse, stands a 70 year tradition where ones father and grandfather had partaken: The Shoe Shine Stand.
Here soft Christmas music plays over a hidden speakers and the gentlemen of the Stand, a man older than Time and Memoria, stands ready to shine your shoes to brilliant glow. The line was remarkable short and seeing the deplorable state of my shoes, decided that a small Christmas gift for myself was in order.
The tradition is very simple. It is two parts. The first, as your father and grandfather did in their day, you clime the small set of stairs into leather cushioned chair sitting 7 foot above the crowd and place your feet on to the peddles. Only then does the gentlemen of the Stand begins with a flourish transform dull and lifeless leather into brilliant sparkling works of refined - genteelness art.
The second part is more difficult: Listen and observe. The gentlemen of the Stand says nothing. He is of singular focus. Bearing the full force of his skill and craft upon the souls of your feet. Except now and then, his head will turn or slightly shift his gaze, suggesting your gaze should follow and you should listen. Watch and listen. Never explicitly, tacitly. Being blessed with two be-speckled - working eyes and two exceptional ears, I now posed to experience what is important.
For starters, the disheveled attorneys pass by my perch. Both are working hard reaching an agreement to keep a man out of jail and free to go home for Christmas "in the interest of Justice."
Then the Sargent of the Courthouse Watch passed by, roughly joking with the Sheriff's Deputies about getting off early and "I got you dog!" The smirks on their collective faces was priceless; including the quiet comments about their uniforms hides the blood and gunk. They seemed to take the day with stoic grace and humor.
Then a cluster of Deputy Clerks and Bailiffs passed by discuss the latest damn-foolery with a rye chuckle. Feeling the warm in their comradery.
At which moment the gentlemen of the Booth finished. Indeed, they glistened like the Bethlehem Star. I concluded my business with good humor and left. The gentlemen of the Stand imparting to me the most important lessens of the Stoic Philosophy this wholly mis-perceived morning.
The glow of my shoes matched the glow of the crowed which impressed upon me the stoic lessen. A Man's perception is not reality. If he goes deeper that what he perceives, only then will he find the facts.
And the blunt fact is, that despite the gloom and grey there is always, just underneath the surface, genuine glimmers of warmth.
And in a world that seems this year particularly grey, there is still glimmers if you are observant and listen.
Merry Christmas to you.
