It’s funny how one’s memory can be jogged by the smallest thing. 

I came across a mention of zori, or Japanese sandals, and on a whim decided to look them up. On doing so I found this picture.

Those are actually getas, a different kind of Japanese sandal, but that’s ok. It was that picture and the subsequent one— 

—that really jogged my memory.

I believe I’ve mentioned previously that when my uncle Curtis was drafted and sent to Korea in the early 50’s, he was able to spend some time in Japan, because when he returned to the States he ended up teaching me a few Japanese words.

My aunt Irene also spent a year teaching in Japan around that same time, and both she and Curtis brought back several items from the Land of the Rising Sun.

I had nearly forgotten about them, but seeing those pictures jogged my memory.

One of them, I don’t know if it was Irene or Curtis, brought back a pair of Japanese sandals, that looked just like those in the pictures except that the straps on the top were a dark greenish color. But I specifically remember they were made of wood and they had two wooden support pieces (apparently they are called “teeth”) on the soles of the sandals.

I don’t think they were intended for me, but I think I tried them on and couldn’t figure out how anybody would want to wear those things. How could you walk on them?

I wonder how many other memories from way back then are still buried in my head, just waiting for the right trigger to unleash them?