Pawpaw's Shoe

Current Mission:  This shoe would like to travel to Boston, MA, the home of the Boston Celtics.

Future Mission:  After visiting Boston, the shoe would like to make its way back to Mississippi.

I had wonderful grandparents.  They lived their entire lives in small town Mississippi and were just great people.  My grandfather was by far one of the biggest influences on my life.

When I was young, we would always spend Christmas at Mammy and Pawpaw's house.  I'm not exactly sure why, but the Christmas presents that I gave them were always terrible.  They were borderline junk, things that no one would want to keep and should be insulted to have received.  Yet, for some reason, I thought I was giving them something great.  To their credit, because of their love for me (and the fact that I guess it really is the thought that counts), they would display these trinkets as if they were the family jewels.

When my grandparents both passed away, the family had to box up many of the things in the house.  As a result, I re-inherited many of these terrible Christmas presents!  I decided to turn my favorite one into a travel bug.

My grandfather really enjoyed sports and was a big fan of Larry Bird.  So, one Christmas, I gave him an autographed Larry Bird sneaker.  Except the sneaker was a small Coca-cola keychain in the shape of a purple Converse knock-off.  And the autograph was signed by me in goofy kid cursive.  I even added a horrible drawing of a bird on the toe of the sneaker, just to make it more special.

Please help me honor my Pawpaw by sending this classic Christmas present on a pilgrimage to the home of the Celtics, Boston!  After visiting Boston, I'd like to see the sneaker make its way home to Mississippi where it belongs.

When you log this TB, feel free to share a story about your own grandparents!