Watery Wednesday
Back a few years, a place like this in the spring would signal a fine time to check out the holes Mom had repaired during the winter in our comfy, gum rubbers. When a slice in our rubber boots was detected, Mom got busy. She'd go to the closet and locate the small tube-like tin and find a rubber patch that would fit the best. Next, she went inside the boot found the area, prepared it by gently sanding the spot with the tin's cover, applying the glue-like cement, taking the paper off the patch and sticking it on the cut. Given her boys almost 24 hour use of their boots in winter and spring, the repair jobs worked pretty well. Sometimes the damaged boot was beyond repair and soon warranted a trip to Zayre's Department Store (Compare, you can't do better than Zayre!) for a new pair. Spring water like this, though, was always the big test. And no matter how hard we complained and begged, the new gum rubbers would not grace our feet till November.
"Those feet of yours are growing and inch a day!"
What a great Mom!
ReplyDeletethank you for the details of the repair. i grew up in the city and never owned gum rubbers. love this post.
ReplyDeletetouching story!
ReplyDeleteLéia
I can't seem to recall what kind of boots we wore but I do have vague memories of something that went over my shoes and were very hard to get on and off.
ReplyDeleteoh, we had that patch kit! but we only used it on bicycle inner tubes and the like. :)
ReplyDeleteWe still have a kit like that which we use on bike tubes.
ReplyDeleteYour mom sounds great..resourceful and caring. Between the boots and bikes, those rubber patch companies probably made a mint.
ReplyDeleteAll this sounds familiar...
ReplyDelete"Compare, You can't do better than Zayre." I guess their advertising was successful in being remembered, if not in getting people into their stores. Maybe in 40 or so years people will be reminiscing about TJ Maxx and Marshalls the same way.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a Florida swamp of which it is best to stay clear...never know what snakes and other critters lurk in such waters.
ReplyDeleteI wish that I had known your mother . . .
ReplyDeleteI remember patching things. No one patches anything any more. We have become a disposable society.
ReplyDeleteDon't think I know anyone who patches anything - as Jack says above. . . A bit sad, that.
ReplyDeleteNice story.
ReplyDeleteFlooded fields and electric lines. A winning combination.
ReplyDeleteYour mum is incredible !
ReplyDelete