Dear Snow Boots,...

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Dear Snow Boots,

I must make a public apology and public commendation for your admiral service in the past two months.

When you left the Canadian factory in which you were made, you were nice, new, and clean. I found you online, looked at the protection you were supposed to offer (-25F with vigorous activity, -15F in mild activity, -5F with no activity)and ordered you promptly. You arrived in a nice box to my home in Gvegas and made me more confident of my preparedness for the tundra.... There was no way for me to know just how dependent I would become upon you, you being my only option of footwear for the past 8 weeks.

Most of the time, you have kept me warm, and most of the time, you have kept me from falling. You have also kept my feet dry given the small street streams that have developed bc of melting snow and for all this I am grateful.

What was unforeseen, however, was the conditions you would encounter. I have forced you to make contact with some of the nastiest things I’ve ever been exposed to and for that I apologize. You have performed admirably in protecting my feet from all kinds of ridiculous germs. After multiple experiences in Ukrainian train bathrooms and a particularly repulsive experience in a Kyiv market, you took yet another blow in this Romanian bathroom (warning: this is REALLY gross):

In consideration of you, I immediately walked into some fresh snow to try to clean you.

With the exception of a few days coming up in Kharkiv, where it is still snowing, I will let you rest. I probably will take you back to the US with me, after I have given you a thorough, thorough, thorough disinfecting.

You will forever be a reminder to me of my experiences with Ukrainian winter.


Gratefully,

Your owner and proud wearer