Shoe shining is a perfectly respectable and valuable profession. So why is it that shoe shine stands on the west coast are such an anomaly? I had an unusually easy check-in at SeaTac last week, so I had some extra time to kill and realized my Dansko's could use a good buff out. So I went to Mel's stand and got 'em done for 5 bucks. People sitting at the gate and walking by looked at me as if I was a circus freak. I admit that it could be the chair being ultra high, but mostly I felt judged - as if I was being politically incorrect getting my shoes shined. And I guess the Seattle part of me considered it as well as I was earnestly trying to have a great conversation with Mel - while honestly Mel didn't really give a shit. He just wanted to do his job. The awkward display was over in about five minutes, and while I walked away I did the math. 5 minutes on display and 5 bucks out of my pocket earned my shoes 6 extra months of life. Good enough for me. read more