Chapter 1: The Tradition of Shoe-Shining

"Hey, Boy! Have you prepared my shoes yet?" This was a familiar call every Sunday. As the child of a pastor, I took great pride in polishing my father's dress shoes. He had taught me to thoroughly care for his soft leather zip-up footwear, which were crafted from sleek black leather and rose just above his ankles.

As a young child, I watched him meticulously polish those shoes, captivated by the attention he gave to making them gleam. The sight of his aged brown wooden shine box, complete with a little step in the handle, always brought me joy. Although it was quite old, its sturdiness had stood the test of time.

I often wondered about its history. My father inherited the shine box from his dad on the night of his high school graduation, a moment tainted by sorrow as his father succumbed to a brain aneurysm far too early. That story always weighed heavily on my heart, both for my father and myself. I never had the chance to meet my grandfather, who had once played bass in Los Angeles nightclubs during the 50s and 60s. I wished I could have heard him play at least once.

He had the opportunity to tour Europe with Xavier Cougat but turned it down to care for his six children and wife. Yet, he passed on his love for music to his sons. My dad not only led our church services but also strummed his acoustic guitar, sometimes performing solos before sharing his Sunday sermon.

With my father's gleaming shoes on stage, the lights would catch their polished tips, and I'd beam with pride, knowing I had contributed to their shine.

My father was not always the most patient person. From an early age, I learned to be cautious and detail-oriented. Each morning as we left for school, he'd shout, "PAY ATTENTION!" reminding me to stay alert. That lesson has stayed with me; I'm always aware of my surroundings, whether in public, out in nature, or within my home.

One of the key lessons he instilled in me was how to care for his Sunday shoes. He guided me through the process one day in elementary school, laying out his shoe-polishing kit on an old towel to avoid any mishaps on our living room carpet. Each Sunday, I handled the shoe polish, rags, brushes, and buffing cloth with care, placing each boot on the shine box as he had taught me. They would appear brand new after each session.

Recently, I visited my father, who is bravely fighting prostate cancer. The illness has visibly aged him in less than a year. While helping him move boxes from his upstairs room to the storage shed, I stumbled upon something that took my breath away: his old shine box.

He still had it! I set down the box I was carrying and picked up the shine kit. After 40 years, it looked just as I remembered. My father chuckled at my astonished expression. "I can't believe you still have this!" I exclaimed, overwhelmed with nostalgia.

"Yep, I haven't touched it in years. You did such a great job on my Sunday shoes," he replied with a smile.

As I opened the box, the familiar tools welcomed me like an old friend. The scents and patterns were reminiscent of my childhood, almost like a time capsule from the 1980s.

After helping him move the boxes, a somber moment lingered at his door as he mentioned an upcoming appointment with his oncologist. Suddenly, an idea struck me. "How about a shoe shine, Pop? I'll make you look fantastic for your doctor's visit tomorrow, just like old times."

He agreed, albeit reluctantly. As I carefully shined his black dress shoes, I could see the joy it brought him. Surprisingly, I remembered the steps easily, even after four decades.

This may be the last time I shine my father's shoes, but I cherish every moment we share. While I hope for many more years together, life is unpredictable. Regardless of what happens, I will always treasure the memories associated with my father's shine box and the pride I felt in making his shoes look their best.

This touching video captures a father-son moment as they shine shoes together, showcasing the bond and love shared through simple acts of care.

In this humorous clip, a family interaction takes an unexpected turn when a comment about shoe shining leads to a surprising revelation.