Sunday 'Neath The Keeper of the Shoes

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Once upon a time, on the edge of a wide and verdant lawn, there lived a Strong Old Oak.


The Strong Old Oak had been reaching his branches up to the sky for a long long time, so he had many stories to tell.

He had stories of small boys with smudgy faces
Climbing on his limbs.

He had stories of young love burgeoning beneath his boughs.

But the Strong Old Oak was far more than just a collection of spreading limbs, green fluttering leaves, or even twice told tales.

For you see the Strong Old Oak didn't live on the edge of just ANY wide and verdant lawn. Oh no, my friends, the Strong Old Oak lived beside Nekoosa High School where he had been trusted with a very important commission.

He had been named "The Keeper of the Shoes."

At the end of each long and grueling cross country season

Young runners who had given their "all" on the cross country fields

Young runners who with sweat streaming down their faces
Had given of the last bit of their running strength,
Who had toiled across the finish line for one last time,
Who had fought a good fight - - -

Those same young runners would come to the Strong Old Oak and toss their shoes into his branches.

The Strong Old Oak received the shoes, wrapped their laces around his limbs, and cherished them as a lasting memorial to the valiant effort and long endurance of the cross country runners.

And of all the stories the Strong Old Oak had to tell, he was proudest of the tale each pair of shoes represented.

Joining Unknown Mami
For Sundays in my City.

Today my city is Nekoosa, Wisconsin

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