Photos of the Day: Shoe Tree of Life

If you are in Utah ... or just on the mountain road to Zion, you will see many signs and marvels. First you must cross the Virgin, pass the ghost towns, steer clear of the ostriches, and go through Rocks and Springs, not to mention Hills and Dales.

If your thoughts are fixed firmly on the road ahead, you may miss something that will touch your "sole" ... the marvelous Shoe Tree of Life.

It is speculated that many a weary wanderer has left their offering to the tree, as a prayer for safe passage or in gratitude for a completed journey. Others speculate that one person's prank has taken on a life of it's own, gotten "legs," you might say. Forget boots on the ground, this is a case of sneakers in the sand, bowling shoes on a branch, tennies in the wind, etc. Perhaps I should stop, before I get barked at for treading over this metaphor to death?

Based on other shoe trees in the area, one has to wonder how long this soleful sensation will last. Perhaps that's the lesson to learn here ... Even when you're in transit, it's always good to stop and look at things. Stop being so laced up.

Many thanks to Grandmary and Joyce for stopping so I could run across the road to be a total dork.