Response:
Her mother's shoes symbolize Chow's sorrow and recollections of her mother.
Reasoning:
In the piece "In My Mom's Shoes", Chow contemplates her journey of losing her mother while wearing her mom's old shoes.
She describes how the shoes fit her mom and the joyful moments shared with her mother.
An excerpt states:
'It's easy to recall her in these shoes — not for yachting. They were integral to her appearance, just like her witty smile and her attempts to wink, which resulted in just blinking both eyes. They adorned her feet at the barn when she took me to ride.'
The shoes evoke strong memories of her mother in Chow. She experiences joy upon receiving the other shoe from her roommate. When she wears them, she feels the closeness to her mom's presence.
Another excerpt reveals:
'They remain incredibly soft. I sense her imprint in them; my big toe matches hers, and the backs of my heels rest in the indents her feet likely caused.'
