At 11:30 this morning I hauled the shoes and boots out to the screened porch.  With them came the shoe shine kit, the brushes, rags, a screwdriver for the dirty boot crevices, Horseman's One Step, Kiwi, edge dressing, old t-shirts, a cigar and cup of coffee.  And the task started.  The mundane task of cleaning, conditioning and shining the boots and shoes.  It was a glorious task.

As I worked with Ramsey sleeping nearby, Biber, Bach, Mozart and friends cascading over the work area, I drew a problem from my brain and began to chew on it.  I let it sit there and soak in as I worked the dirt out of Maddie's barn boots and riding boots.  I imagined different approaches as the dirt came off the boot soles.  The ideas rolled out, some dead ends, others good theories.  I plotted my approach to the solution as the One Step was rubbed over the supple leather of the riding boots.  The simple work held my hands captive while I thought freely.

I thought through the next week, organizing tasks, thinking about opportunities and projects I need to address.  But I kept working, rubbing out water stains, making edges as black as midnight, bringing up the shine of the leather.  My mother dropped by and talked as I worked.  I took a couple breaks but mostly worked and worked on thinking.

That is the beauty of mundane tasks - mowing the lawn, ironing piles of clothes, cleaning and shining shoes:  They offer something that perhaps a walk, or bike ride do not.  That time when you are physically captive but intellectually free. 

When I walk, I look around - at the trees, the kids, the dog, nature.  Same when I ride.  I don't usually have time to problem solve on these types of excursions.  But there is something about actual chores that releases the brain like so many more demanding tasks can't.  I pity those who hire chores out.  They give away the wonderful mundane tasks than can provide so much time to think about things.  To get things right.

In the end, a few hours later, I felt better than when I had started.  A satisfying job was well done.  Maddie smiled as she put the barn boots on to trudge back through the mud and manure.  I enjoyed the time and the work and the thinking.  I had a much improved outlook and Ramsey slept on.