I took a bunch of photos of my dirty shoes because I want to talk about how easy and cheap it is to just FIX your shoes rather than BUY new ones. I don’t know why I didn’t realize this before but now that I notice all the show repair shops around me I am all in!
How This Shoe Repair Thing Got Started
For months—maybe a year or two—I’ve been driving past this cute little shoe repair place. However, it’s on one side of town and closes at five and I’m on the other side of town and off work at 4:30. So I’ve driven past a perpetual darkened doorway.
And I said “Oh how I wish all my many broken shoes could go visit that wonderful little shoppe on the other side of town. They would be so happy there.
“Especially my wedding shoes, which have been a bit destroyed thanks to the beach I traipsed all over having wedding photos done.”
I knew one day I had to pass the shop while it was open, so I put my broken shoes in the trunk awaiting their divine appointment.
After a year or many months or whatever, my chance came
And I seized said chance and entered the little shoe shoppe. Immediately I set to explaining exactly what was wrong with my shoes. Everything was straightforward until we got to my mangled boots, which have been with me through thick and thin. “Do you think they’re is worth fixing?” My concern was real. Even though these shoes were expensive, they had been well loved and I wasn’t convinced I wanted to invest too much more into them.
“Of course it’s worth it,” Sir Shoeman said, with an oddly judgmental expression on his face (OK I made that up, he was deadpan).
His wife (I assume) sitting behind the sewing machine surrounded by knee-high leather boots showed more concern saying, “Do you have any shoes left in your closet?”
Deciding all my shoes were worth saving I left them for the weekend.
And then a few days passed. Once again I ran into the “Closed at five and across town” dilemma. But I missed my shoes too much to leave them for much longer. So I took a chance and stopped in anyway. At 5:30.
And a hush passed over the crowd
That’s right. I darkened that darkened doorway and…it was unlocked.
So I stepped in and greeted Mrs. Shoeman, still surrounded by boots, who promptly called her husband who loaded all my shoes on to the counter. They were so beautiful.
“You know we’re closed,” he said.
“I know, I’m sorry. I just can’t seem to get here by five.”
“You should come early, we open at nine but we’re always here at eight. You come at eight next time, not after we’re closed.”
Confused as to why coming before they were open as opposed to after they were closed made any difference I paid my incredibly small bill ($30!) and left with my shoes.
And now I have my beautiful shoes back!
Imagine replacing all those for just a few repairs! Now I won’t be walking on screws, drenching my feet, or anything else British Columbia springtime weather throws at me.
You hear me weather? I AM PREPARED!
Now stop snowing and stuff so I can wear my heels to work.
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