billie's board

Love does more than just restore…

So, my wife Tia completely out did herself this Valentines Day! She gave me one of the best gifts I have ever received. Not because of the amount of money she spent, but because of the heart behind it. She knew I’d love it so much that she couldn’t wait until Monday to give it to me. So, she gave it to me on Saturday evening. She comes out of the back room and tells me to close my eyes. Like any husband I’m thinking, “Game Time Leggo!” LOL… No really. Finally, she said open your eyes! And there they were… my 6 year old pair of red plaid Baracuta PF Flyers. They were completely restored with a few upgrades.  To most, an old pair of kicks wouldn’t mean much. But for anyone who really knows me, these things are my world! I’ll wear them with absolutely anything and not think twice about it. Back in October I was contemplating doing a photo-shoot of them and afterwards laying them to rest in the Oakland Cemetery. But I just couldn’t.  To say the least, they were finished! The fabric was tearing away from the sole of the shoe on both sides to the point where both pinky toes had their own AC units! And the back of the right shoe had completely split to the point that it sounded like a flip flop when I walked. Oh, and did I mention that Tia absolutely HATED these shoes!

I asked my wife why she would take a pair of shoes she hated with a passion, have them completely restored, and add materials that would extend the life of the shoes for years to come?

She then told me not to focus so much on the shoes. But what she really wanted to give me through this gift was the freedom to be myself.

“The greatest gift you can give your spouse is the freedom to be him or her self”- Radical Love

Tweet