Life can be puzzling. I know mine certainly has been. Puzzles have always been a part of my life. So many kinds! He-Who loves to do the Crosswords and I have always enjoyed a good Jumbo Sudoku. These days, however, they frustrate me more than anything but I have to keep doing them for therapy.
There were always Jigsaw Puzzles under the Christmas tree when I was a child. I can’t really tell you whose name appeared on the gift tag, but once opened, it became community property. In our home, we had a card table that would go up when the puzzle beckoned to be put together. Then, all the pieces would be dumped on the table. Someone would start turning them right side up, one at a time, and moving them to an edge of the table. Someone else would join in and start assembling the straight edges of the puzzle. Then, someone else, hovering and watching, would see a piece that fit, lean in, pick it up and place it into the picture. Before you knew it, we would all be sitting around and filling in the blanks. Many hours were spent this way with my sisters when I was a child — passing around the box cover to get a good look at what we were creating. At times there was no conversation, just concentration. Other times there would be giggling and laughing and stories shared. I’d forgotten about that. The puzzles stopped after my Mom passed and we were separated at various times and places.
As a young adult living on my own without a lot of disposable income, puzzles came back into my life. One caught my eye and it wasn’t long before I had the card table set up and was sorting out the pieces. After that, seldom would you enter my apartment without a puzzle at some stage of creation, welcoming you. Often, people who came by would end up sitting with me, coffee in hand (OK, more likely Scotch… depending on the time of day) catching up with each other while working on the puzzle.
There were a couple of issues with my jigsaw…shall we say, “habit”. I couldn’t stand to take them apart after they were done. I would find a board and glue the pieces down so that they’d stay put. Sometimes I’d have them framed and give them to someone to “proudly” (my word, not theirs) display in their home. Eventually I discovered plaquing. A nice coat of decoupage and then off to the plaquing place I would go. It would be mounted, sealed with a plastic coating and it was ready to be hung. I’m not sure if habit is the right word, perhaps addiction or obsession is more like it. One particular cold, snowy day, I came home early in the afternoon because of a blizzard. I remember walking into my apartment, glad for the warmth. From where I stood an illusive puzzle piece caught my eye. My thick gloves flew off as I walked over to the table. I triumphantly placed the piece where it belonged. Several hours later, I heard the phone ringing from somewhere far away. It was insistent and getting louder. It was my phone. As I walked to answer it in the kitchen (no cells back then), I noticed the storm must have gotten worse, it was so dark out. My friend said, “I just wanted to check that you made it home safely before I went to bed.” I was surprised she was going to bed so early in the day. Except she wasn’t. It was well into the night. I had been standing for hours, working on that puzzle. I hadn’t taken off my winter coat, boots, hat or scarf. I hadn’t sat down, drank, ate or even had a pee for crying out loud!
Most of the time I tend to think and work as if I am piecing together a puzzle. In the edit suite at the TV station it was always about piecing together a story. When I am writing I often have a beginning and an ending but need to make the stuff in the middle fit together. Once, I set up a puzzle in the lunch room at the TV station. It was a welcome distraction for everyone. We were having trouble making something work on the studio floor and with tension mounting and personalities flaring, a lunch break was called. After a bit of teamwork on the puzzle we returned and things just fell into place.
Over the years I tried to find more challenging puzzles. I tried a black and white one of a vampire and his prey. My nephew ended up with that one. Next I tried a round one. No corners. No problem. Then I got into mosaics. The first one I did was fun. It was a huge Mickey Mouse. The image was actually made up of thousands of little tiny cells from the original Disney animations and it hung on our wall for years.
The second…and last mosaic I did was the hardest. Not because of its level of difficulty, but because of the emotional impact it had on me. It was of the New York City Skyline prior to 9/11. This photomosaic was designed by Robert Silvers and created from thousands of miniature photographs of people lost in 9/11. I cried for every one of the 1,026 pieces of that puzzle and saw those faces in my sleep for some time. It was plaqued and hangs in my brother-in-law’s home in Lewiston, New York.
Somewhere along the line, my older sister came to visit. When she saw I was working on a puzzle she went to it and started working. I was shocked. I said, “I didn’t know you liked to do puzzles.” She was quite surprised. “Of course I do. We all do. There was always one on the go when we were kids.” How could I have forgotten that? It was the closest I’d felt to family in a long time.
The puzzle pieces of my life haven’t always fit together perfectly. Quite frankly, there will always be pieces missing. But every once in a while, I find a piece and fill in another section. When I was 27, I met my birth father and three sisters I hadn’t known. More pieces that I wasn’t sure how to make fit. A couple of years ago I moved back to Niagara Falls for a few months. I was able to spend time with old friends and family that still lived in the area. It was also an opportunity to spend some time with one of my “newer” sisters. The only thing she has ever asked me to do turned out to be one of my most cherished gifts. She wanted me to get to know her daughter Jane, who was only 10 at the time. I had no clue what to do. I’ve spent tons of time with nieces and nephews that I have known from the time they were born. I’ve baby sat, we’ve had adventures and special times. I love them all. All of a sudden I am looking at my sister thinking, “How can I do this without a history?” As usual I was skint and couldn’t take Jane places or buy her things. But I wanted to know this beautiful child as much as her mom wanted me to.
I showed up on their doorstep with…wait for it…a jig-saw puzzle in hand and nervous as hell. In all honesty, I think her father wasn’t too impressed and thought I might be missing a few “pieces” myself. Over the next few months we put puzzles together and really got to know each other. Jane’s piece fits perfectly in my heart and I will always be grateful that I was given the opportunity to know her. We even found a portable case for puzzles. Now we can keep one on the go for whenever I visit and it can easily be put away until the next time.
I’m thinking that it’s time to start a new puzzle — at home. There are a few people around I’d like to get to know a little better. Yes, life can be quite the puzzle.
Oh, Michelle. This post kind of hit me. I used to do puzzles with my dad and did them while growing up, too. Especially, in his final years, we put some pieces together. He had always had a puzzle going in the clubhouse where everyone participated. He had a big board for the puzzle so that it could be shifted around. Anyway, I get puzzles. The moments of silence, the stories, the bits of laughter, and the happiness over finding the missing piece. Oh, great post! xox
Thanks, Amy. I’ve been thinking about this post for a long time and finally decided to see if I could piece it together. It’s long but I couldn’t figure out what to get rid of. I’m so glad you got it.
I’m so glad you didn’t take anything out! Indeed, I got it. Funny, I’m working on a post right now I’m trying to cut. 🙂 One never knows. Anyway, I enjoyed every word of your post.
I am crying after reading this. We did many puzzles at my grandparents’ cottage when I was a kid. Some of my fondest memories. I’m going to go buy one as soon as I can and set it up so I can do it with my family. They will probably turn their noses up at the idea, but I know once it is set up they won’t be able to resist. Thanks for a lovely post.
It’s a funny thing. Even the strongest opponent of puzzles can’t resist when they see a piece that fits. Your gang will have a great time doing them.
I love puzzles also…but am so busy doing other things I never get around to it!
You are one of the busiest people I know. Always on the go and off on a new adventure. But, it’s easy to always have a puzzle around for those calmer nights at home. You don’t have to do them all the time.
Doing puzzles is a bit like riding in a car on a long trip without a radio/techno gadgets…funny how conversations develop. Lovely post
You’re right. The art of conversation has taken a turn for the worse I am afraid. And truth be told that’s all you have to do…turn off all that other stuff.
That’s you all caught up with me. 😉 Easy, peasy.
What a sweet post. I have never been into puzzles, but I just love the idea of this. What a wonderful way to get to know folks!
Thanks, Elyse. It is a time honoured tradition in a lot of households. A holdover from the days when we didn’t have hundreds of choices on TV, computers and cell phones. A lot of people I know still will take along a puzzle if they are visiting their cottage or cabin which may not have as many options. Not to mention…puzzling is a whole lot easier o the wallet. 😉
I know the feeling of obsession a jigsaw puzzle can create. I used to love putting them together – but frankly haven’t done one in many years now. And yes, life is like puzzle indeed. The way you describe how you how found some of your missing pieces is very touching.
Thank you, Otto. Sometimes I find my missing pieces and sometimes they find me.
Thanks,J.B. Sudoko has always been a favourite of mine. I like the big as pictured in the post. After my head injury I found I couldn’t make them work anymore. but I kept trying. My doctor says they are really good therapy so I photo copy them now and just do them until I figure it out.Apparently, puzzles of all sorts are really good for your brain. Exercise, so I am told, so enjoy the ones you play.
really interesting, I follow
Thank you. I appreciate it.
This reminded me of my father putting together a puzzle of an impressionistic painting of a rain-soaked street in Paris. He was so pleased when he finally put in the final piece, he glued it to a board. I guess he didn’t want to try that again. LOL. My uncle used crosswords to help his memory return after heart surgery. Puzzles can be good therapy, too, it seems. Lovely post.
Thanks, Renee. I think that puzzles of all kinds are very therapeutic.
I’m not getting any alerts when bloggers I follow blog. I don’t understand why. Glad I found this one! You and my mom would’ve had fun doing a puzzle together. She loved puzzles and would be happy as a clam spending countless hours just putting pieces together. Great post! Glad you got to know your niece!
Thank you. I’m glad I got to know her as well. She is a treasure. I appreciate that you took the time to find this. I know you will be missing your Mom over the Holidays. Big hugs to you and Adventure Boy.
Awwww, thanks! Yeah, I miss her everyday, but I know she’d want me to be happy and be a great mom for Adventure Boy.
I’m such a puzzle fanatic too!! I can’t believe you posted that Micky Mouse puzzle because I so have done that exact puzzle!! Although it was a serious pain! I prefer jigsaw puzzles with house or or little town illustrations.
Have you ever tried a puzzle called Yubotu? Also called Battleship (not the board game) I think. I’s a pretty fun little puzzle style!
You’re right, that Micky Mouse one was a pain in the butt! I’ve never heard of Yubotu but you can be sure I will be checking it out. I had a look at your blog, made me laugh out loud. You’re very talented.
Thanks so much!! 😀 Yubotu is awesomeee, but kind of hard to find! There are a few books of it, and occasionally it shows up in mixed puzzle books!
I’m sorry Michelle for not having been around for a bit, and in particular for having missed this beautiful post. I don’t use that word too often, but this post is beautiful – your addictions and compulsions and your sense of family and how you rejoined it. Just wonderful, and glad I had the privilege of reading.
Hope you’re doing well – happy new year!
I confess, I have missed you, Trent. Honestly, I haven’t been around much either. I seem to be disconnected somehow. I don’t like it at all.
I know this piece was pretty long and I really appreciate you taking the time to get through it. It’s one I started an stopped several times in the past year or so because it wasn’t fitting together right for me. I guess there was missing pieces. Thank you for your generous comment, it means a lot. Hopefully we will “see” each other a little more often in this new year.
I hope so too, Michelle – I always figure that the puzzle pieces aren’t missing, just temporarily outside our reach.
I like the way you think.
Happy New Year! Inspiring post, hope to see more from you in 2016. Toni
Thanks, Toni. I’m working on it.
What a beautiful piece. I do Soduko most days and the crossword on Sunday. I never stayed with the jigsaw puzzles once they got hard and tiny. I love the way you told it, your puzzling story.
Thank you, Bumba. I appreciate your kind words.
Sometimes my story still puzzles me…who am I kidding…most of the time. 😉
I love to do puzzles as well. Working on more and more advanced puzzles has been a strain on my marriage as the amount of time our coffee table is in complete disarray continues to increase.
Heheheheh…I feel your pain. We had to get a special case that allowed us to fold up a puzzle in progress for fear of the spousal wrath. Thanks for stopping in, Paul.
This is such a great story! We all have missing pieces of our puzzle. I too have spent hours on Sudoku and puzzles. I had to stop since they were taking too much time in my morning. Ha! I’m so glad you found your missing pieces!
Truth be told, I’m still missing some but I like to think of it as being a work in progress. Thanks for stopping by.