Better Than New
"Whatever it is that makes closeness possible between two people also puts them in the way of hard feelings if that closeness ends."
- Tobias Wolff, taken from This Boy's Life
I first encountered Tobias Wolff as a freshman in college. My writing class was reading "In Pharoah's Army," I struck up a conversation with the professor about the material, and she recommended that I read "This Boy's Life." Now I haven't read Wolff's latest work, "Old School," but I do believe it is fair to say that "This Boy's Life" is his undisputed masterpiece. He writes in lean sentences, similar to Hemingway, but with a polish that Old Ernest never had. It was one of those rare books that was beyond good; I rationed out pages of this book each night to prolong the enjoyment.
Somewhere in the first two chapters, the main character manages to con his mother's boyfriend out of his beloved shotgun. He refers to the gun as being "better than new." Some things, like shotguns and shoes--given time, the appropriate care, and use, have the possiblity to be "better than new." This was the line that played through my mind this weekend as I went to get a new pair of shoes.
As I have gotten older, I have developed a taste for well made suits, shirts, and dress shoes--running shoes and goggles should be on this list as well, but they deserve to be written about in a post of their own. At the same time, I will rarely pay retail for suits, and shoes. I'll drive to Los Angeles twice a year to scavenger for discounts at the Barney's sale, and monitor Nordstrom for sales. This weekend Nordstrom had their anniversary sale, and I was able to score a pair of beautiful black cap-toes, and save $130 USD in the process.
I score the shoes, take them home, and compare them to a pair that I already have in my rotation. I have had the original pair of black cap-toes since October of 2006. They have been shined a countless number of times and go to bed each night with shoe trees placed firmly inside. They conform to my foot the way a great pair of jeans meld into your backside. But with all this said, they are due for a trip to the shoe repair store in the near future. They are better than new, but still need some work.
On Monday morning I talk about my concept of "better than new" with my boss, Sean. I give him the example of shoes being better than new, and asked him if he had experienced anything like in his own life. This is where Sean knocked me on my ass--as he can do from time to time. "Well," he said, "I think relationships, like my relationship with my wife, are the best example in my life of things that become better than new over the course of time."
This is where quality men's dress shoes and human relationships seem to cross paths: given the appropriate care, they both get better over the course of time. Abuse your shoes, don't give them a deep, thorough shine on a consistent basis, save the $17 USD and pass on shoe tress, and over time your shoes--regardless of how expensive--and they will literally fall apart at the seems. If I had to summarize this into one word it would be this: Care.
That's my heavy, deep thinking for this post. Otherwise, things are good here in my world. The months of gutting my freestyle are starting to pay off. I still have some lingering tendinitis in my left shoulder, but it's beginning to dissipate. I can see how all the pieces of my training with Coach Kevin are coming together. It's been a long, trying road to get to this place, but I would say that this is what the Path to Mastery is all about: deferring comfort in the short-term for capabilities in the long-term.
I haven't written in awhile, and it feels good to clear out the cobwebs. My mind always feels clearer after a good writing session.
Namaste
- Tobias Wolff, taken from This Boy's Life
I first encountered Tobias Wolff as a freshman in college. My writing class was reading "In Pharoah's Army," I struck up a conversation with the professor about the material, and she recommended that I read "This Boy's Life." Now I haven't read Wolff's latest work, "Old School," but I do believe it is fair to say that "This Boy's Life" is his undisputed masterpiece. He writes in lean sentences, similar to Hemingway, but with a polish that Old Ernest never had. It was one of those rare books that was beyond good; I rationed out pages of this book each night to prolong the enjoyment.
Somewhere in the first two chapters, the main character manages to con his mother's boyfriend out of his beloved shotgun. He refers to the gun as being "better than new." Some things, like shotguns and shoes--given time, the appropriate care, and use, have the possiblity to be "better than new." This was the line that played through my mind this weekend as I went to get a new pair of shoes.
As I have gotten older, I have developed a taste for well made suits, shirts, and dress shoes--running shoes and goggles should be on this list as well, but they deserve to be written about in a post of their own. At the same time, I will rarely pay retail for suits, and shoes. I'll drive to Los Angeles twice a year to scavenger for discounts at the Barney's sale, and monitor Nordstrom for sales. This weekend Nordstrom had their anniversary sale, and I was able to score a pair of beautiful black cap-toes, and save $130 USD in the process.
I score the shoes, take them home, and compare them to a pair that I already have in my rotation. I have had the original pair of black cap-toes since October of 2006. They have been shined a countless number of times and go to bed each night with shoe trees placed firmly inside. They conform to my foot the way a great pair of jeans meld into your backside. But with all this said, they are due for a trip to the shoe repair store in the near future. They are better than new, but still need some work.
On Monday morning I talk about my concept of "better than new" with my boss, Sean. I give him the example of shoes being better than new, and asked him if he had experienced anything like in his own life. This is where Sean knocked me on my ass--as he can do from time to time. "Well," he said, "I think relationships, like my relationship with my wife, are the best example in my life of things that become better than new over the course of time."
This is where quality men's dress shoes and human relationships seem to cross paths: given the appropriate care, they both get better over the course of time. Abuse your shoes, don't give them a deep, thorough shine on a consistent basis, save the $17 USD and pass on shoe tress, and over time your shoes--regardless of how expensive--and they will literally fall apart at the seems. If I had to summarize this into one word it would be this: Care.
That's my heavy, deep thinking for this post. Otherwise, things are good here in my world. The months of gutting my freestyle are starting to pay off. I still have some lingering tendinitis in my left shoulder, but it's beginning to dissipate. I can see how all the pieces of my training with Coach Kevin are coming together. It's been a long, trying road to get to this place, but I would say that this is what the Path to Mastery is all about: deferring comfort in the short-term for capabilities in the long-term.
I haven't written in awhile, and it feels good to clear out the cobwebs. My mind always feels clearer after a good writing session.
Namaste
posted by Zen_Accountant at 7:36 PM
1 Comments:
I enjoyed this post and will continue to reflect on your ideas.
Better than new . . mmm, let me see.
Yes, my ten year old marriage is better now. My relationship with my step daughters has also improved.
My old dog, Bobo, at 18, is more mellow, sweet, and easygoing.
Spaghetti sauce, soup, and oso bucco are always better the next day. Wine.
My friendships are either better or forgotten.
The Bible definitely becomes more profound, wise, meaningful for me as I age and continue to study and read.
Tomorrow I turn 52. I hope I'm becoming better.
Post a Comment
<< Home