I got to the airport to head back home earlier than expected this afternoon. After killing some time looking over a report, buying magazines, and eating some food, I got my shoes shined for the first time ever.
I'm hooked.
An older black gentleman greeted me and told me to step on up and have a seat on the end. There were only three seats, so I put my bag down, stepped up and sat down, placing my feet on the steel pedals. We spoke about the weather, what brought me to Birmingham, how he was born and raised in a near by town (he did live in New Jersey for 16 years), and about some of the people that come in and out of his place of business. Every few minutes someone would pass that he knew and they would greet each other with a hello or a wave of the hand. He said he's been shining shoes for the last eight years there at the airport and while early on he would arrive at 4:30 am and stay until the airport cleared out, now his days are getting shorter thanks to some help he's added.
He spoke with a smooth, calm, trusting southern pace. He did things to my shoes I've never seen and did it in a way that made me wish I had more shoes with me for him to shine. He was gracious and just brilliant at what he was doing. He was all of this for a mere $4 a shine.
The whole process took maybe 10 minutes and ended with him smiling and saying, "There ya go. Now you can take that shine back to Orlando."
I gave him a $20 and thanked him. His eyes showed the surprise and appreciation he felt by the tip. I too appreciated the experience. Like I said, I'm hooked!
If you're running through Birmingham Airport look for him near the Delta Airlines gate C4. You'll enjoy the shine, guaranteed.
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