Losing my grandmother’s boots left a ‘small tear’ in the fabric of our relationship, my sister said. Recently, a parcel arrived in the mail
When my little sister and I were teenagers, my grandmother gave our mother three pairs of fine old Italian shoes: green woven leather sandals, two-tone pumps; and reddish brown leather boots that came up just over the front of the knee.
All were high heels, which my mother did not often wear. They lived in a cupboard – one she had built herself in the woodworking space she had assembled in our basement – and were allowed out with us only when given permission. In those days, she was a TV news reporter. Her clothes were beautiful, but always worn with flats: penny loafers, Church’s brogues.
Continue reading…
