How I Discovered the Meaning of Hubris and Lived to Tell About It

There was a time, before my current calling as a librarian, when I was engaged in All Things Fabric. If it had warp and woof, I was in. Game for nearly everything fiber-related, I balked only at spinning and weaving.

Then came the Time of the First Communion Dress.

I’d already made my daughter’s dress for her First Communion. It was an intricate confection of shadow embroidery and French heirloom sewing. Attaching the lace to the hem alone took three hours one day and I drove to, of all things,...