Secret Obsession

I have a confession to make. First I must say, when I traveled to Korea, I didn't have a lot of expectations-mostly because I just didn't know what to expect. I knew the culture would be foreign to me, so I went with an open mind. I was told to be prepared for having my personal invaded, that bubble around me where most of us Westerners prefer to live.

What I hadn't expected to see in downtown Seoul, was men in black. Black suits that were expertly tailored to fit perfectly to each man. Shiny, polished black shoes that make a certain sound as the heel taps the floor.

I love a man in a suit, with shiny shoes. There, I said it. I can't explain why, but oh how I loved walking through a sea of men wearing custom fitted suits, & looking down at their fresh, shined shoes. It was hard to keep from pointing my camera everywhere and snapping away. Even though I didn't think they'd notice, I tried to be polite. Unfortunately, I never did capture the moment.


I do believe this obsession comes from my dad. No, he doesn't love a man in a suit. But Dad wore a uniform, & I don't believe I ever caught a glimpse of his shoes when they didn't gleam. As a little girl, I loved watching him polish his boots.

About once a week, in the evening, I'd see Dad collect his boots, set out the black leather shoe polish, a cloth, and his soft, buffing brush. He'd dab a bit of the black cream onto the shoe and begin gently rubbing it into the leather. There's something manly & rugged about the scent of shoe polish and seeing the care he took to keep his boots looking new.

Sometimes he would use the time to shine his belt with the tiny loops that held his bullets. It was usually at the same time he'd take apart his gun and clean & polish it too. Seeing the care he took instilled a healthy respect for both man and gun.

In the morning, as he'd kiss me good-bye, I beamed with pride. I can still hear the sound of his boots, see the crease in his perfectly, pressed pants, and see the shine of his shoes as he walked out the door. As a little girl, it left me feeling all was right with the world. Dad was in control. He could handle anything.

Maybe that is why I felt so happy & comfortable in downtown Seoul.