As the title of the book suggests, while these essays are loosely sewn together, sometimes overlapping, sometimes diverging, they are really a collection of miscellaneous parts, making up an entire life - my own. With a few exceptions, each of them is based around a single central organizing principle, a recurring theme representing some activity that has been important in my life. Taken together, I hope they create a colorful, enjoyable "quilt" for the reader.