Many of you have asked where in the world I've been.

All I know is that after 7 plus years of blogging and a different lappy, which I don’t like, I seem to have lost my blogging fervor.

Someday, when you least expect it, I will post again.

For those of you still waiting I say thank you.

Meanwhile, I am rather prolific on twitter. Find me: @KeethaB
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The Eclectic Company - Waitin' on a New Adventure!!
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Sunday, June 17, 2012

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
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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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16 comments:

Tara R. said...

That is a great old tree! I would love to hear all the stories it could tell.

(thanks for letting me know about my link at Mami's. The link seems to work, but the image is broken.)

Unknown said...

Good story, Keetha. Shoes here in trees or across wires signify drugs for sale. Glad you live in a happier place.

Wayne W Smith said...

A great story all around. Heartwarming.

ArtandArchitecture-SF.com said...

Great story - gorgeous tree, hope you are enjoying a beautiful weekend.

Tina´s PicStory said...

oh yes, a wonderful tree! :)

Anonymous said...

A tree of shoes...interesting that it's spread all over the globe.
The Strong Old Oak looks a little bit lonely but strong...
Beautiful post!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

What a wonderful tradition! I love this tree! Great story! Happy Sunday!

podso said...

I'm sure that tree has many tales to tell. And what a neat tradition. Shoes flung up high mean something not so nice in our city.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Thank you for sharing the story of this tree. Love The Keeper of the Shoes!

Claudya Martinez said...

Oh you should turn this into a children's story book.

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

That is cool Keetha!
Great story there!
Are you babysitting the grandkiddies yet?
How come summer flies by so quickly!
Dan is toiling away on the house and you will have to take a trip over sometime to see it...and us too!
Hugs,
Cindy

Katharine said...

Oh the stories it could tell... and so beautiful!
Hope your weekend has been wonderful!

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

What a cool story! And what a incredibly gorgeous tree!

Unknown said...

Love this post. I bet that terrific old tree has many secrets.

Jenny said...

This is soooo cool.

It's neat to think of all the stories and memories tied around with those shoe laces!

Vidya Sury said...

In the first picture, the tree looks like a giant hug to me, Keetha, so welcoming. The lawn is so verdant! I wonder if the shoe owners had their own particular branch? :-)