Sneakers on power lines
January 30th, 2006While I was walking down the street earlier today, I saw a sight that is not uncommon to the city dweller. A pair of sneakers hanging from a power line. For as long as I can remember I wondered why they were there. I mean, the questions always plagued me… did someone have to walk home without shoes? Were these an extra pair? Were they so worn and tattered that this was just a more artistic way of throwing them out? It seems to me that all those pairs of sneakers must have a story behind them.
But country dwellers have their own unique sneaker phenomena. This is the single sneaker in the middle of the road, or off the shoulder. These have always troubled me more than the pairs hanging from the power lines. I mean, who loses ONE shoe? Again, I’m picturing someone walking home with one shoe on (diddle diddle dumpling?).
I have never actually known anyone whose shoes wound up on a power line. I have never known anyone whose shoe wound up on the side of the road. Everyone that I have ever had this conversation with has had the same questions as I do - namely, where do these shoes come from? I have seen kids throwing them onto power lines in movies. I’ve seen it out the window of a car, but never when I could ask about them.
It’s like a mystery. Those shoes have stories, but I wonder how many people actually know them.
Here are some interesting theories on sneakers on power lines.
~FG };^>
LOL! God, I love you!
I saw a shoe at the edge of a sidewalk (about to fall into the street), and once again wondered the same thing.
Comment by Parizad � January 30, 2006 @ 20:03 pm
We have sneakers on the power lines where I live too.
I’ve always wondered how and why they are there but I don’t think I ever voiced it to anyone and I certainly haven’t heard anyone else say anything about it either. Too weird.
Thanks for writing about it.
Comment by Jody � January 31, 2006 @ 1:08 am
When I see sneakers on a power line, I always think the same thing. Actually though, one time I was the one who threw a single shoe out of the car onto the street. It was unusual circumstances and there was no real purpose to it, other than for fun, but I guess that is my claim to fame.
Comment by Steve � January 31, 2006 @ 1:36 am
It’s my fault, I tried to jump over the power lines and my shoes got stuck. You would think I quit but I just keep trying….go figure.
Comment by Ryan � January 31, 2006 @ 9:13 am
[…] ~*Ramblings of Fyre*~ » Blog Archive » Sneakers on power lines links over to an interesting post that Fyre points out…sneakers on power lines has always been a wonder to me as well. So many questions — so little time. […]
Pingback by catwithapen.com » Blog Archive » ~*Ramblings of Fyre*~ » Blog Archive » Sneakers on power lines � January 31, 2006 @ 9:42 am
I was told by a police officer that shoes over the powerlines indicate that a crack house is nearby. This is to help give directions to potential customers.
Comment by T. � January 31, 2006 @ 22:16 pm
T, I saw that theory while I was poking around online, but that’s all it is, a theory.
There is no substance to the claim that it marks gang territory or that it denotes where to find drug dealers.
~FG };^>
Comment by FyreGoddess � February 1, 2006 @ 10:50 am
I used to do this when I was a kid as well. When you get a new pair the old pair goes up. This serves a dual purpose. 1) It’s fun 2) Mom doesn’t tell you “wear your old sneakers, it’s wet today!” thus denying you the chance to look good in your new kicks.
Every so often if we got our hands on someone we didn’t likes sneakers they would go up there as well, but thats about the extent of it.
Maybe there is some special meaning, but there never was when we did it.
Comment by Bane � February 1, 2006 @ 17:12 pm
During one of my multistate travels I came across a tree where it had a bunch of shoes nailed to it. they had pairs hanging from the limbs and branches…but up and down the whole trunk there were shoes nailed to it. People said everything from “its symbolic of all the people who have died in this town over the years” to “its an anti-war message”…but all it was is someplace where a few neighborhood kids were bored and nailed up a few of their own shoes, and a few more people did, and eventually people from all over would go there to nail up one or two of their shoes. It was one of those times I wish I had a camera cause what I was seeing was so beautiful that I wanted to document. Kinda like the last time I hung out with you.
Comment by sessa � February 2, 2006 @ 8:56 am