[ Preface: This might seem a little strange, but this post is a little tribute to the amazing REI boots that have been everywhere with me! And in our house, whenever we get sentimental about something we know we can’t keep, we take pictures to capture the memory! ]
I bought these boots a long, long time ago from REI – one of my favorite stores growing up! And these boots were awesome – super comfortable, weather and water proof, and able to endure any kind of beating I threw at them. They traveled all around Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, spent an extended period of time in Colorado, went on countless adventures around Clemson, and even hiked Mt. Kilimanjaro. And through it all, they rocked! I have so many fun memories and have had some crazy adventures with these boots. But, while in Colorado a couple of weeks ago, they finally had had enough. It was sad, but I’d say that if I wore them until the soles came off, then they lived a good life.
We’re foot-slog-slog-slog-sloggin’ over Africa-
Foot-foot-foot-foot-sloggin’ over Africa-
(Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin’ up and down again!)
There’s no discharge in the war!
Seven-six-eleven-five-nine-an’-twenty mile to-day-
Four-eleven-seventeen-thirty-two the day before-
(Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin’ up an’ down again!);
There’s no discharge in the war!
Don’t-don’t-don’t-don’t-look at what’s in front of you.
(Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin’ up an’ down again);
Men-men-men-men-men-go mad with watchin’ ’em,
An’ there’s no discharge in the war!
Try-try-try-try-to think o’ something different-
Oh-my-God-keep-me from goin’ lunatic!
(Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin’ up an’ down again!);
There’s no discharge in the war!
Count-count-count-count-the bullets in the bandolier
If-your-eyes-drop-they will get atop o’ you!
(Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin’ up and down again)
There’s no discharge in the war!
We-can-stick-out-‘unger, thirst, an’ weariness,
But-not-not-not-not the chronic sight of ’em-
Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin’ up an’ down again,
An’ there’s no discharge in the war!
‘T’ain’t-so-bad-by-day because o’ company,
But night-brings-long-strings-o’ forty thousand million
Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin’ up an’ down again.
There’s no discharge in the war!
I-‘ave-marched-six-weeks-in ‘Ell an’ certify
It-is-not-fire-devils, dark or anything,
But boots-boots-boots-boots-movin’ up an’ down again,
An’ there’s no discharge in the war!
“Boots” – By Rudyard Kipling