New & Pretty

Location: Driving on a new street in a new San Diego neighborhood, looking for a new library - at the intersection of Research and Judiciary Drives - wouldn't you think someone could keep their soles together?

Condition: Excellent - a woman's left thong, hardly worn - fancy engraving around the edges of the foot pad and real shell (abalone?) and beads stitched into the multi-layered leather straps.

Dumped in D.C.

Location: In the dimly lit underground Metro station beneath Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. - laying on the pebbly grey grime that accumulates under the waiting platform and beside the tracks -

Condition: A well cared for but worn men's black, left flip flop sandal - foot imprint toe and heel - black and yellow straps.

A Dead End Sole

Location: Jewel Valley Rd in Boulevard, CA - an old cracked asphalt road that dead ends near the CA/Mexican border, where men's dreams dissipate and their bodies can vanish as well.

Condition: this Vans right shoe (man's) is the worst - sun baked and rain rotted, filled with sand and dirt, split and torn sole - truly a sole with no future.

Electric Pink

Location: I never expected to find a lost sole tonite, on the floor in the aisle between small appliances and extension cords, at our local Fry's Electronics.

Condition: a very new woman's size 7 soft fabric slipper.

A Sole Full Morning - a Triple+!

Location: As I drove by the RR tracks this morning in Chula Vista, I spotted a lost sole about a foot from the track.

Condition: A very worn man's right casual faux leather shoe with a tiny weed growing out of the soul and the inside packed tight/spilling out - perhaps previously a mouse nest?

Location: With power lines crackling overhead, across the tracks I could see another lost sole in an empty field.

Condition: A Reebok athletic shoe, size 11 - in very poor condition with a worn down, cracked sole - no laces, no mate.

Location: And off to my right, at the edge of a nearby field of very tall weeds . . .

Condition: A Saucony, left - UK size 11 - weathered upper but a like new sole. Clean laces.

A passerby watching me take photos, told me about a nearby shoe repair shop. I drove a half mile and at 246 Broadway in Chula Vista found the Boot Round-Up Shoe Repair shop.

I met Chito (the author of the words on the window) and told him about my lost sole collection. As I was taking his photo, he told me he has owned this successful shoe repair shop for 22 years.

Fit & Trim

Location: Poised, waiting, watching - facing south in a parking space in front of the gym at the Golden Hill Recreation Center, San Diego.

Condition: Strangely with no laces, a man's athletic right shoe, size 9, Vans brand - black and white. Used, but still firm in very good condition.

Bright White

Location: Found in the early morning light, poised and alone on the edge of the sidewalk corner - intersection of Dwight and Granada Avenues in North Park, San Diego.

Condition: A Truffles brand ladies 7-1/2M leather slip on with words nearly worn away inside, cracked leather on outside. Medium wear. Made in China - given up in California.

A Pooped Slipper

Location: Seeking protection up against the cement base of a parking lot light standard in Santee, CA - in the Best Buy/IHOP restaurant lot.

Condition: A man's huge slipper - size 12 - 13, black corduroy, used and scuffed with a fresh white plop of seagull poop on the big toe.

Left at the Lake

Location: Left among the mossy rocks at the water's edge of Lake Wohlford near San Diego, California

Condition: A woman's slip-on, left brown suede shoe with a high def tread sole - for hiking? Looks to be about a size 7 with lots of moss growing all around the base. Blends well with the other moss covered rocks but seems out of place, cold and lonely.

Tiny Blue Cutie

Location: Catalina Island - early morning before anyone was walking the main beach stroll of Avalon, this tiny shoe was just sitting alone on a patio table in front of the Villa Portofino hotel

Condition: Brand new, not sure the owner was actually walking yet -no scuffs or stains on the bottom. Thomas & Friends brand - right shoe, size 1

An Alley Orphan

Location: Found in a neighborhood alley between 33rd and Landis Streets in San Diego

Condition: Women's New Balance, left, model #766 - muddy, sun damaged - no mate, been foot loose for a long time

Mangy in Maryland

Location: On a freeway off ramp - Hiway #68 about 30 miles east of Cumberland, MD

Condition: Pathetic, very worn, outer leather blown out over big toe - no laces, puffy red torn interior - 4 small spiders inside. Left boot only - looks to be about a man's size 10.