Bright Things #8: Wool Slippers

One of the themes of The Memory Collectors is our relationship to physical objects — the memories, emotions, and power they hold for us. Every week leading up to the book’s release, I’ll share the story of an object that’s special to me.

My mother gave me these Padraig Cottage slippers for Christmas a few years back. They are by far the best slippers that I have ever owned: cozy, beautiful, and durable. (Note: my husband disagrees with the beautiful part. He is wrong.)  

A thing I didn’t expect was that these would become my everyday, most worn shoes in 2020. They’ve been on my feet pretty much all day every day since March (don’t worry, they are machine washable!). I’ve worn them in countless business meetings and training sessions for my day job, in publishing industry meetings, and in the various Zoom gatherings that have taken the place of my social life.    

No matter what challenges, both good and bad, I may be facing on any given day, and no matter how much uncertainty or anxiety I’m feeling, my slippers are there, keeping me grounded. Thank you, my soft, cushiony friends.