I often feel that I am detached from others, like an outsider. In my middle school people of the same race or religion would always stick together.Because of this, I was often alone. I am a mix of ethnicities, and as far as I do not have a religion. I was often isolated from those around me, and I have come to find comfort in that.

To be honest, I do not feel like I belong in any community, and the only strong bond I feel is towards my nuclear family: two older brothers and my father. In a way, we make up one entity. If something happens to one of us, we all strongly feel it. Lately especially, events have occurred that are tightening our bonds. We are like a rope: individual strands that make up one being. Even though our culture is a mess from many different countries, it is the one culture I most identify with.

Last summer I endeavored to create something that will capture the memory of my family and unite us in one work of art. I came up with this (this is just a very tiny fraction of it):

Making quilts is something common to my crafty aunt and grandmother. The two of them would make and sell wedding dresses, and they would compile scraps to form quilts. These masterpieces were given to each family member where they were very under appreciated. Many guests would beg to buy these pieces for up to $3000 (which is even more in Iran fifty years ago) but my grandmother would never allow it. Quilts were for the family and would stay in the family.

Inspired by my grandmother, I made this quilt out of old clothing that once belonged to my father, brothers, or myself. People often think of clothing as a representation of the person who wears it. Similarly, this quilt is a representation of us: our taste, style, and how it has changed over the years.  Each square holds a memory special to each of us, which an outsider may not understand. Certain squares come from clothing that once belonged to my mother, and though I was reluctant to add her into the family quilt I felt it would not be complete without someone that was once a big part of our lives.

It took me over two months to create this almost king-sized quilt. Once completed, I ceremoniously placed it over my bed only to find out: It was too big!! I sleep on a twin-sized bed, what was I thinking making something so large!?

But, deep down, I knew why I had done this. I wanted to surprise my father with it. One day while he was at work, I replaced his sheets with my humongous quilt. When he came home he was ecstatic, I had given him a gift that will live on in our family.

“Every time I come into the room, I become happy,” he tells me, “because the bright colors cheer me up, and each piece is special.”

I feel the same way when I see the quilt. Even though it is very mediocre compared to what my grandmother used to make, the fact that I attempted to and succeeded in such a big project always fills me with pride. I made something useful for someone, and I have made something that reflects my family and our values. We are as unique as each square, and together we make up something special.

Someday, I will pass it on to my daughter, who will pass it on to hers, and so on. I hope this piece will always represent my family, and it will always be sacred to them. Perhaps future generations will add representations of themselves to it. Or, perhaps they will not. Either way, I hope they appreciate it as much as my family does now.