one down

Oh, the things that go through your mind when retracing your steps for a lost shoe.

Today, on our daily hike to the post office with packages for my loyal customers, we had a few firsts.  I ate my first bug of the season (flew right in).  We walked through the drive thru at TCF (can't go in with a dog) and Axel lost one of his precious shoes.

Already having delivered the cargo and nearly at our door again, I peeked around the edge of the stroller (to check for eyes open or closed) when it occurred to me that Axel did leave the house with 2 shoes.  Immediately panic set in, but exhaustion won.  I had to wait until Jahred came home to go searching for the shoe.

As I was biking just a minute ago, suddenly I realized that this tiny leather shoe, hand stitched in Canada, worn by my beautiful boy nearly every day for 8 months, super dirty and starting to come apart at the seams...meant more to me than possibly any other object.  The thought of not having the shoe as a keep sake for a grown up Axel nearly made me sick.

Frantically I biked through traffic on the precise path we took home this afternoon.  About 1 mile from our home, I saw the sad, boy-less little shoe, face down on the sidewalk...just where Axel had left it.

As I bent down to pick it up, I don't think you could have wiped the smile off my face.  A couple walked by, and although my chatty self wanted to share my joy, that moment was just for me.

Pulling into my driveway, it felt like I was carrying the Olympic torch.  Victory, sweat and a few tears was all I needed for this TGIF.

Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend. 

++ For more info on these truly amazing little shoes, visit MiniToes.