Living in a one hundred seventy
six square foot room really limits the amount the activities that are possible.
Mostly it is just sleeping, hygiene, computer/TV, and thinking but at least
once every week I break out my boot oiling pad and oil and shine my boots up
nice for the next day. For those unaware the oiling of the boots is not for an aesthetic
reason but it helps preserve the life of the leather and prevent it from cracking.
People always say you can learn a lot about a person from their shoes. I believe
the same goes for construction and their work boots. I can learn what trade a
person might be by looking at their boot; if there boots are flat soled and
made of reddish leather then they are most likely an Ironworker, Boilermaker,
or Scaffolder because they are required to wear flat soles to climb the I
beams; If their boots have a shield over the laces they are most likely a trade
involved in welding such as Welders and Millwrights; and if there boots are
covered in certain materials you can usually identify them by that material. For
me when I see a person with a well-oiled pair of boots I am inclined to think
that they are more likely to have pride in their work because they have sense
to take care of their tools. I think this appreciation for a well taken care of
pair of boots can be rooted back to my father. For as long as I can remember my
Dad took pride in the foot wear he wore. I remember him coming home from work
some days and after dinner he would sit down by his boots and oil them all up
for another day of work. He didn’t do this every day but as it became needed he
would clean and oil his boots. My dad always told me that I have to learn to
respect the things that I own and I should have the same respect for the things
I don’t. I guess this whole boot story
comes back to my Dad and the things I remember when I shine my boots. The
Sunday before last was the day I came back up to Kitimat but it was also Father’s
day and he had to drive me. I feel kind of guilty for not being to give him the
father’s day that deserves. All though sometimes we but heads this is the man
that has made me into the man I am today and given me every opportunity to be
the most I could be. He has given me way more second chances then I deserve and
has not received the endless thanks or admiration that he deserves. He is the
person I know I can always go to for advice and all too often favors. A privilege,
I only came to realize this year, that he has no longer has; this I can only
begin to fathom must be one of the worst things to go through. So to the man
who gave me everything and asked for little in return I hope this makes up for
having no card with your father’s day gift.
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