tstartinthemiddleandworkoutward,evenonthekindtheycall"crazypatchwork",whichismadebyfeather-stitgtogetherarbitraryshapesscissoredoutatthemakerswhim.

    Patienceisagreatqualityinthemakerofpatchwork.

    ThemoreIthinkaboutit,themoreIlikethismetaphor.Youreallymakethisimageworkforitsliving;itsynthesisesperfectlyboththemiscellanyofexperieheusewemakeofit.

    BornandbredasIwasiestantnorthw-classtradition,Iamalsopleasedwiththemetaphorsovertohriftandhardwork.

    Patchwood.

    Somewherealongmythirtiethyeartoheaven--adecadeagonowIwasintheGreyhoundBusStationinHouston,Texas,withamanIwasthenmarriedto.HegavemeanAmerialldenomination(heusedtocarryaboutallourmoneyforusbecausehedidnottrustmewithit).Individualpartmentsinalargevendingmaeinthisbusstationtainedvariouscellophane-edsandwiches,biscuitsanddybars.Thereartmentwithtwopeachesinit,rough-cheekedDixieRedsthatlookedlikeVictorianpincushions.Onepeachwasbig.Theotherpeachwassmall.Istiouslyselectedthesmallerpeach.

    "Whydidyoudothat?"askedthemantowhomIwasmarried.

    "Somebodyelsemightwantthebigpeach,"Isaid.

    "Whatsthattoyou?"hesaid.

    Idatemymoraldeteriorationfromthispoint.

    No;holy.Dontyousee,fromthispeachstory,howIwasbroughtup?Itwasnt--trulyitwasnt--thatIdidntthinkIdeservedthebigpeach.Farfromit.Whatitwas,wasthatallmybasictraining,allmyinternalisedvalues,toldmetoleavethebigpeachthereforsomebodywhowamorethanIdid.

    Wa;desire,moreimperiousbyfarthanneed.Ihadthegr