The Old Pair of Shoes

Have you ever moved to a new town and found yourself alone, not knowing anyone? That was me, back during the summer of 2018. New to both retirement and Durango, I decided to start walking around town with my camera. I found interesting storefronts and business signs to photograph. I was looking for something unique that I could photograph and give to the businesses as a means of saying hello. I wasn’t looking for money, but instead I was looking for a way to meet people and make friends. One day, I decided to take a walk along the beautiful Durango Hike and Bike Trail. This amazing trail leads you through a beautiful area of town, and a large portion of the trail is located alongside the Animas River. It was along the river portion of the trail that I found myself fascinated with the beauty of the river and the wonderful shops and businesses along the trail. The walk was very relaxing, and I really enjoyed seeing all the colorful rafts and kayaks floating the river. After walking for a couple of hours, and saying hello to people along the trail, I decided it was time to head home. It was on this turn around trip, back to my car, that I spotted an old pair of shoes. They were not just any old pair of shoes. This particular pair of shoes had beautiful flowers growing inside them. To my surprise, someone had actually used an old pair of shoes as a flowerpot. Well, this was something I had never seen, and it struck me as something that would make for a wonderful and unique photo. I took a few pictures and headed on home.

A few days later I returned with the photo in hand and presented it to the owner of the White Rabbit Books & Curiosities. Keena was so kind and loved the picture. We talked at length about the photograph and her amazing bookstore. I let her know I was new in town and knew absolutely no one. Keena invited me to stop by her store anytime to shop or simply visit. She let me know that I could no longer say that I did not know anyone or have any friends in Durango. White Rabbit Books & Curiosities holds a special place in my heart. By simply taking a picture of an old pair of shoes, I met a wonderful person and business that I have returned to many times during the past 4 years. In my humble opinion, White Rabbit Books and Curiosities is the best and most unique bookstore in all Durango. Keena will help you with finding the book you are looking for or suggest a book you might enjoy. If she does not have the book you want, she’ll be happy to order it for you. I must admit, stopping by the White Rabbit is something I always look forward to. I don’t always buy a book, but I always get to say hello to Keena, my first friend in Durango. ~Cary Lindley, Prescott, Arizona _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ A shout-out to everyone who has taken the time to write about what White Rabbit means to you. Your submissions have brought a smile to my face and have made me teary more than once. I’ll be sharing entries with you all here once a week. You are most welcome to submit your own, if you are so inclined. This blog is to be a community meetingplace of sorts, for anyone who feels compelled to share your perspective on White Rabbit through words or photos. Entries can be submitted via Messenger on the White Rabbit Facebook page. Leave a note with your name, and where you hail from, too. Thank you for being a part of White Rabbit. ~Keena