A relatively wise man recently warned
me: “Whatever you do, just make sure you don’t wear out a pair of shoes here,
otherwise you’ll end up staying in Luderitz forever!”
As I pondered these words of caution
I looked down to my feet at my battered old shoes; wrinkled leathery skin
creased into smiles at the toes, laces thinned by time, simple souls softened
by sand - well on their way to being “worn out.”
I
realised these tattered old shoes tell a story. Every step I have taken in
Luderitz since arriving 7 months ago has been mapped out in the material
covering my feet. That awkward stone that I carried through town all the way to
the Valombola crèche in Area 7 one unsuspecting Tuesday morning has been noted
down in the fine indentation at the heel. The countless times I have tripped
over that step outside Brightstart have been meticulously recorded and have
slowly worked the soles loose from the shoe leaving a slight gaping mouth at
the toe. The stitching has come undone at the sides unravelling just a little
more with each step. Tales etched in thread.
My point is - (not that I am in dire
need of new shoes and am fishing for a donation...!) but that we do not only
leave footsteps behind us, we carry them with us always in our footwear, the
places we have been are trapped in a tapestry of leather, canvas and rubber.
Distances are inscribed in thickness of your soles. The indentations and
imperfections beg the question: “Buchters! What do your shoes say about you?”
Your shoes hide no secrets, have you
been relying on your car too much lately? Your shoes are looking just a little
bit too pristine, the toes are in need of laughter lines. Did you avoid the
puddles on Luderitz’s token rainy day this year? The leather is thirsty. Do you
avoid the sandy pavements and stick to the tar? The soles are in need of
cushioning.
My
own shoes? Well they have splashed through many puddles, embedded themselves in
piles of sand and they have certainly seen a lot of walking, - for 7 months to
the High School and back once a week, to Valombola and back twice a week (not
to mention tripping over Brightstart’s front step more times than I can
count...) Many kind Buchters have stopped and offered lifts during these weekly
walks, thank you to those of you who have done so – I appreciate it, especially
on those windy days! But my steps have a story to tell, I have already worn out
three pairs of shoes here, and I am glad to have done so. My shoes have been
well used; they were made for walking and have certainly not been sitting idle
in my wardrobe!
But to return to our earlier
mentioned wise mans warning, I replied: “Not to worry, there is a fine shoe
repairer at the Waterfront. I know him well...!”
