Andrew Lawson mapped the San Andreas Fault after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. He was the presiding geologist and seismologist on construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. He built the houses that Pat and I grew up in next door to each other. When Pat was three Andrew died at the age of ninety two.

Just before his mother Isabel died in 2003 she told Pat that Andrew might not have been his real father after all. Pat was more than a little annoyed with her for that.

Pat Lawson was a special once in a lifetime sort of friend. His story is integral to mine. He was the innocence to my experience. I look back and am wistful that I could not have shared more in that innocence. All the same, he indirectly enriched my life immeasurably, this was due to his peculiar choice of parents and destinies. For this I am indebted to him and think of him often.