Kindred Spirit in a Shoe Shop

Walking to the bus stop, I noticed An old fashion shoe shop that was closing. In the window, I saw the shoe holders from the 1920s and wondered if those would be for sale, too, considering everything in the shop had to go. I hesitated but pushed myself through the door to ask if they were for sale.

The owner, an older man, said he was closing the shop because he was retiring; he was 75 years old. I asked him if he wanted to sell the shoe holders in the window. He told me they were in bronze from the 1920s; he asked me how many I wanted. I said as many as he would like to sell; and that it depended on the price. We struck a deal, and he put them in two bags, hundreds of them that weighed more than an elephant and a rhinoceros combined. Thankfully I had my suitcase with me, and I stuffed them inside.

I continue to the bus stop. But before I left, I wished him much happiness in the next chapter of his life, and I told him it was a pleasure to meet him. With tears in his eyes, he thanked me.

Isn’t it funny how I went in hoping to buy some of those shoe holders and instead had one of those brief, rare encounters where you meet someone and have an unexplainable meeting of the soul?

Comments

[Jeanne]

My Grandfather was a shoe maker by trade. Shoes have a special place in my heart and the smell of shoe leather today brings great memories
What a lovely story
Put your best foot forward and bless "shoe" always
Love Jeanne

[Athens Francophile]

Divine appointments are truly a gift from God.

[Diane Belforte Lewis]

its wonderful

[isabel]

You made him very happy. A lovely encounter <3 <3

[Judith]

What in the world are you going to do with all of them?

[Jennifer Phillipps]

Nice one, lovely that you found the shop, got something vintage and had a happy encounter...but yes, what are you going to do with all those lovely bronze shoe lifter uppers? You could make a fabulous intricate sculpture! Merry Christmas one and all...Jennie, NZ

[Fat Rabbit]

Sweet story for the Christmas time