In The Blue Cotton Gown  you experience much more, you are told a story, and then you are told the thoughts rambling in Patsy’s mind in the midst of the story.  At times I completely laughed out loud.  Patsy chose several particular patients and their stories and wove them into a tapestry of time.  She mentions a favorite blue quilt in her home, to me its as if each story was a quilt square, hand sewn with love and care.  I felt like I was completely entrenched in these woman’s lives.  I wanted their babies to be well, the goofy men in their lives to get a clue, I wanted Patsy to triumph over her own personal turmoils.  I felt like I was part of it all.  I was especially touched by the tender relationship she has with her husband. Envious actually, she shared so intimately about the two of them, and that too made me cry. 

I admit the weekend I read this book was an especially emotional one for me, truth is I wasn’t in a very good place and I needed to cry.  The reading was a much needed distraction that  filled my heart.  I wrote to Patsy when I finished and said that her book was like a friend.  As woman we know how ridiculous our lives get to be, what I welcomed was the reminder of how truly courageous we all are.