Out on a Limb in
Kinmount
By Lynne
Yours to behold, have you discovered me yet? Mystical, magical, whimsical, and jolly, I present
an intriguing creation, a curious masterpiece sure to bring a smile to your
face. The best way to find me is by luck,
chance or word of mouth. Nestled in a
land of sparkling waters, fragrant forests and carpeted farm fields, near Kinmount , Ontario , I
share my paradise with multitudes of visitors who often capture my astounding
image against the silhouetted skies of Somerville Forest
My tale begins one summer eve long, long ago when a little
girl and her mother stumbled upon me. I chuckled
when the girl asked if shoes grew on trees.
Her mother explained I was a peculiar man-made oddity. Stumped about me elusive origin, she
suggested I was a unique tourist attraction saving ever shrinking
landfills. Perhaps it was a token of
good luck to cast shoes on me or maybe I was a wishing tree.
Captivated, they explored scores of shoes adorning me when
the girl discovered a spectacular pair of shimmering ruby red shoes. Instant desire filled her heart. The shoes reminded her of the famous ruby
slippers from the Wizard of Oz, her
favourite movie. Maybe these shoes were
magic….Desperately craving them she pleaded earnestly, but her mother
refused.
I was certainly glad about that. Humans should never tamper with shoes
festooned on a Shoe Tree. Shoes hold
spirits of previous owners and disturbing them could bring bad luck.
Despite her continual yearning, the girl did not have her
way. Her mother promised they’d return
to picnic sometime, cast shoes on me and make wishes. Satisfied, the girl declared me the best tree
worldwide!
Over time, this girl became my favourite visitor. She brought family and friends to meet
me. I listened as she spoke of passion
for the nearby cottage her grandparents owned at Crego Lake
Always remembering the ruby shoes, she wished for them
whenever flinging shoes on me. Growing
up, she constantly pursued identical shoes, coming stores, flea markets…forever
keeping a watchful eye. Obsessed by her
quest, she believed good things come to those who wait.
Upon becoming a teenager, tragedy struck. Her grandparents
sold their cottage! Heartbroken, she
bore her grief to me one showery afternoon.
Sobbing uncontrollably she wrapped her arms around me, giving me a
tremendous hug. “There’s no place like
the cottage,” she wailed. I could not
bear to see her in such pain. If only
there was something I could do to ease her sorrow, but what could I do? I am a tree.
Sudden inspiration overcame me. I thrust down into the depths of my roots,
mustered all my energy, succumbed all my will, all my might to jiggle my limb,
releasing the shoes she so longed for.
As the shoes spiralled downward, a splendorous rainbow
filled the sky. Immediately sensing the
enormity of the moment, she smiled through streams of tears. Thrilled with emotion, she grasped the ruby
red shoes, vowing to treasure them forever.
Years later we gloriously re-united. Now adult, her heart’s desire beckoned. She purchased her grandparent’s cottage. In time, sharing her destiny, she brought
along children of her own, eventually followed by grandchildren. They swear the ruby red shoes I gave brought
her “home.” Her recent gift to me was a
sign reading “Here stands a tree of great sole.”
Why do shoes tree endure?
Perhaps the sole reason will remain unknown. What legends lurk behind this compelling
ritual? From where did the phenomenon
sprout? Who dreamt up the roots of this
baffling tradition? When were shoes of
old first flung high to the sky to catch a limb? How did that first pair of shoes trigger a
shoe-tossing cascade?
Answers seem shrouded in mystery, lost in oblivion…yet
clearly. Shoe Trees symbolize embodiment of immense human spirit; people
leading, following, creating, soles intertwined.
These are my final words:
As you traverse the wonderland of Kawartha Lakes ,
celebrate your adventurous walk of life following footsteps of those before
you. Carry your sense of humour, camera
and old shoes. After coming upon me,
herald a sublime memory, leave your mark in time, and dare to become part of
enchanting folklore…Who knows what miracle may happen?
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