Spit Shine

As a kid, every Saturday morning I would sit cross-legged on the floor and spread out an old paper bag to catch any errant flecks of shoe polish my weekly chore might create.

My Dad worked on a military base which meant, among other things, that his shoes needed to regularly be shined.

At the end of every work week I was charged with bringing the leather back to life, courtesy of a can of Kiwi Black Polish. First I would smear a light sheen of paste on the leather and then brush and buff like crazy. Once the tops gleamed, I used a bottle of black ink to carefully touch up any scuffs on the heels. Then back into the closet the shoes went, ready for Monday morning.

If you have never polished shoes, this routine might seem hopelessly out of step. Even old fashioned. All the work is undone so quickly. Why even bother?

But acquiring both the patience and eye for detail necessary for such work is valuable. Especially when you're doing it for someone else. 

"If both of your shoes are shined, then your best foot will always be forward." – Maryrose Wood