Use-and-Throw

Near my home, where I sometimes go to buy our daily provisions, the people traffic may be lighter, but there are also number of street cobblers, again in close proximity.

The one I am most familiar with has been mending shoes for the past two-years since I moved into this place.  On my handphone, he is listed as "Shoemaker".  He always has a smile on his face, ready to strike up a conversation with anyone who passes by.

 

It is a sunset industry, many people do not like to fix things these days.  People are also more fashionable and will have multiple pairs of shoes for office and social purposes.  Especially we ladies.  I brought a pair of shoes for him to fix and he told me it was beyond repair.  I said they had sentimental value, but he maintained that the repair would only be temporary and didn't want to take my money if he couldn't do a good job.  

 

It is true that nobody bothers to fix things anymore.  Whether it is a phone, a fridge, a TV or washing machine.  It is deemed cheaper and more convenient to simply buy a new one.  

 

I suppose it is always easier to walk away and to look for something new and novel.  It's much harder to work at trying to fix something.  

 

Thanks to my cobbler friend.  I can see the pride on his face because he took something broken and mended it with tender loving care.