Big shoes to fill

I believe that, all of us have an innate desire to walk a mile in the shoes of those we aspire to be...
I can sill imagine the warm feeling of coarse wool wrapping around my feet, as I slipped on my fathers old yellow leather slippers. I don't know how old I was, but I recall going through a phase of replicating the things my father did. Late into the weekend mornings you'd find him in those old worn in slippers and a black terry cloth robe. He must of thought  he was Elvis, as I reflect  now... After changing into his street clothes for the day, I would put those slippers on and try to wear the robe. The sleeves hung down to my ankles and the robe dragged behind me like a cape. Taking a step in those slippers was like lifting a cinderblock and before long, I'd be tripping and falling into a black robe avalanche.

Today, I was reading while my son was engaged in some independent play. I peaked up to check on him after hearing a stir, and much to my surprise, there he was, standing in my tennis shoes and grinning  ear to ear. It was the first time I realized that my son was trying to be like me. Though I can never know all of the sacrifices my father made for me, I've grown into those old yellow leather slippers now and my son has begun growing into mine.

---