Lost In New York

"Highwire Act"-First Avenue near 27th Street

With the big life change from city mouse to country mouse drawing near, I wonder how frequent my lost shoe sightings will be once I leave Manhattan. I’m constantly on the lookout but I never know when a sighting is going to happen and with the move to a much more rural area I don’t foresee too many instances where shoes are just going to be lying about. I do have to admit though that I’m surprised I’ve been able to find this many shoes even in Manhattan. When I come across a shoe or two I'm almost always taken by surprise, "A SHOE!" as if I haven't been keeping my eyes glued to the streets and sidewalks hoping to spot one. It's sort of funny to me how I don't see ANY for several weeks and then suddenly I can't walk down the street without a spotting every few blocks. Here are a few strays I've picked up since last Friday.

"Free Parking"-Third Avenue

I'm very disappointed with this shot. It was very late; I was on my way home from work trying in vain to schlep 6 large empty boxes plus my heavy backpack without tripping over myself ONCE AGAIN when I saw this sneaker. I quickly set the boxes down, fished my camera out of the backpack and went to stand in the street to take the shot. Just as I stepped off the curb and turned to take the picture, the traffic light changed and there were suddenly 8 cabs bearing down on me at speeds in excess of 200 mph-it was like a scene from "Death Race 2000" for a minute there. I snapped one picture quickly and just missed getting sideswiped by THISMUCH. After the first shot I called it quits. My hands were shaking pretty badly and I decided the shoe wasn't worth dying for.

"Tag. You're it!"-Third Avenue and 18th Street

This shot cracks me up for two reasons, 1. Slippers? How do you lose your slippers outside? "HONEY, I'm going out to get the paper and then walk barefoot down 3rd avenue, be back later" and 2. They look like they're playing some kind of chasing game or telling secrets.

"Let's see, a loaf of bread, a container of milk, a pair of stiletto's"-Second Avenue and 29th Street

As I was taking the picture of the "highwire shoes" (pictured above) while simultaneously trying to stop the little girl from eating food off the sidewalk and picking up broken glass my cell pone rang, it was my husband, who, not more than 2 minutes earlier had hurried ahead of us because nature was calling, was calling to tell me that he had spotted some shoes in a shopping cart near 2nd Ave and he wanted to make sure I didn't miss them. What a guy! I actually took a few pictures of these shoes but don't think any of them came out especially great. Ellie was hungry and she was fussing and we were starting to draw attention to ourselves and I suddenly felt very silly standing in the street taking pictures of shoes while my toddler was having a meltdown.

"Sidewalk Sale"-Third Avenue

I don't quite know what to make of this one.

"Jailbirds"-30th Street

I love this one. It's funny and yet sad at the same time. They really do look like they’re trying to break free from jail, which makes me chuckle, but then I find it sad because they also look like they have been sentenced to life behind bars, probably for giving blisters. Ok, let me stop being corny now.

Written by Deb on October 19, 2005 01:02 AM