On the Edge of Common Sense

Mother gave me a small box of old pocket watches and a book entitled “A Practical Course in Horology.” It was a Christmas gift. A family heirloom, of sorts.

“I don’t know if you’ve got anything of your father’s,” she said. “Fixing watches was his hobby. I thought you might enjoy these.”

A wave of emotion swept through me. Although the sensation lasted only seconds, I felt the complete awareness of...