It is one of the enduring mysteries of modern times: a lone shoe on the highway, abandoned and without its sole mate (pun intended).
So how did it get there? It is a question that has seemingly been asked since the times of lone sandals on the streets of Rome.
The mystery surrounding abandoned footwear has inspired long reddit threats and Facebook pages. It has its own Wikipedia page.
Dude, Where’s My Shoe?
As Lifehacker noted, people are forgetful creatures. We’ve all been there. You’re on the way to the gym on a busy day, carrying our shoes and gym bag and protein shake and in a rush. You put the shoes on the roof of your car while you unlock the door and stash your bag. You begin to drive off and, wait, where are the shoes? They are car surfing, and probably falling off, that’s where.
Gravity
We’ve all seen it. Shoes, hanging from telephone lines. Now, why people do that is diving into a whole separate rabbit hole. But regardless of how they got there, what goes up must eventually come down.
Kids
Speaking of things that cannot be explained, children (and parents!) sometimes get the urge to throw things. Sometimes, those things are shoes. Sometimes, they are in the car when that urge strikes.
And, yes, it happens to adults, too!
The Homeless
A columnist for the Denver Post once noted that more single shoes are found in areas with high concentrations of homeless people, who might find shoes in donation bins or dumpsters. Sometimes, they only need one shoe. The other gets tossed.
Alcohol
If you’ve ever been “overserved,” then perhaps you know the feeling of waking up the next morning to find all of your worldly possessions didn’t make it home with you. Maybe it’s your cell phone, maybe it’s your entire purse or maybe it’s a shoe.
Moral of the story? Drink responsibly and keep that footwear safe, folks.
What is your theory on the mystery of the missing shoe?
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