I want to share with you a funny story about the actual making of the large square. You know how sometimes you get the feeling that Tony is still around? Well, the week before Tony's death anniversary, I was preparing to finish the large square, but the fabric was really wrinkled. Believe it or not, Matt and I don't own an iron (until now we've always had a housemate who did), so I dampened the square and tossed it in the dryer with a small load of wet clothes for five minutes. When I opened the dryer, it was still wrinkled so I let it go for another five. This time when I opened the dryer, I couldn't find the square. I ruffled through the clothes and didn't see it. I pulled the damp clothing out one piece at a time and couldn't find it. I shook each piece of clothing as I put everything back in the dryer and I still couldn't find it! I was about to get Matt to have him help me look. Then I thought maybe I had put it back in the washer or dropped it next to the dryer, but it wasn't in either of those places. That's when I could practically feel Tony smirking and snickering over my shoulder. I said, "OK, Tony. That's enough. I need this square back!" So I sat on the floor in front of the dryer and pulled everything out piece by piece again, and this time it was there. It had gotten balled up into a tight ball in the sleeve of the Hawaii shirt Matt recently wore to the Nine Inch Nails concert. It was ten times more wrinkly than it had been at the outset, and I just had to laugh. "Smart aleck!" I said aloud, and threw it back in the dryer for another ten minutes. When I opened the dryer this time, it was unwrinkled and lay perfectly on top of all the other clothes. "Thank you," I said.

I am glad that so many of you joined in the creation of this small memorial to a dear friend. From this project's conception to its completion I have been blessed with the chance to see Tony through the eyes of all of you, and it has given me new ways of seeing him and new ways of seeing those of you whom I already know. In addition, it has given me the opportunity to "meet" some other significant people from Tony's life for the first time. The whole process has brought me so much peace and comfort that I seriously think it should be a custom for friends and family to make a memorial quilt whenever someone dies. It's an idea to keep in mind should you lose another loved one.

Tory Baldwin