Fave Shoes (via Mrs. J and By the Way)

Re: By the Way

I've been through alot with these skates. I recently bought a new pair. I thought that after 15 years it might be time to give 'em a break and work on breaking in a new set. But I rarely wear the new ones. It feels like cheating. Just ain't right.

If you look close, you can see toe prints toward the right of the left shoe.

A scratch of the surface conjures NY Subway, NJ Transit, The T, The Tube, LA, London, Boston, Philly, DC, Chicago, San Fran, Vermont, Virginia, Vegas; Stone Pony, CBGB, Limelight, Fast Lane, (Name a venue in the tristate area, they've stomped there), Asbury Park; the whole Jersey Shore, sand, ocean, rivers, ponds;  Jenkinson's and Martell's, Seaside, Lavallette, Wildwood, Avalon, Stone Harbor, especially Point Beach;  Manhattan - Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Lower East, Village, Central Park in the dark, up and down, cross town. Bruce, the Dead Milkmen. Mojo Nixon. X. Black Flag. Pearl Jam. Hole. The Ramones, Jane's Addiction, Afghan Whigs, Sponge, Love Spit Love, Oasis, Ministry, The Chemical Brothers, Tool, Monster Magnet, Bowie; Red Sox, Mets, Yankees, Jets, Giants, Knicks, Nets, Rangers, Devils; third base literally, home runs metaphorically; dance steps in theater, movie sets; garbage cans, dumpsters, alley ways; every convenience store ever; Ned's Atomic Dust Bin; broken glass, outta gas, fires, blood dripping fights, mustard; cops, one more fix, 3 bands, 5 cars, 12 steps, church, hospitals, work, play, five relationships, hundreds of parties, bong water, beer, fishing, boardwalks, first kisses, break-ups, job interviews, 10,000 pages, running away. 15 years without a hint of the meatball hack tired sole/soul metaphor. They wilt from time to time. They don't spring back as quick as they used to. They look like hell. But they're my bunny slippers.