It all started last Christmas. Ron gave me a 1000-piece jig saw puzzle entitled, "National Parks America." This was appropriate for two reasons. First, my bucket list includes seeing all the U.S. National Parks before I pass on to a better place. Secondly, I grew up doing jig saw puzzles with my five siblings every New Year's Eve. I loved the gift. For the next few weeks, this puzzle dominated our dining room table. In between other activities, I worked on it. Ron also worked on it but our 12 year old grandson, Cole, turned out to be the quickest of all in recognizing the pieces that fit. We completed it in just a few weeks.
Hooked, I bought more puzzles. After all, putting together puzzles is supposed to be good to keep you mentally sharp and help prevent dementia. I bought Ron a 750 piece puzzle entitled "Clunkers." The finished puzzle depicted cars from the 1950s & 60s in a rustic scene staged in a colorful drive-through bar and restaurant setting. He finished it within a couple of weeks. My 6 year-old grandson Nathan, with his brother's help, completed a 100-piece Glow Zone animal puzzle shortly after.
Okay, I admit it, I got cocky. I bought a 2000-piece Mega puzzle with very intricate zoo scenes. I spread it out on a large cardboard sheet on the table because I knew it would take a while. No one wanted to join me in this challenge but after working on it a few minutes each day for several weeks I had almost all the edge pieces. All was going well until we had guests for dinner and I had to move it. I mistakenly placed the cardboard with the puzzle-in-progress on the arms of a recliner in the corner. Wrong move! On the way to the bathroom, someone knocked it on the floor. Oh my! I would have to start all over again. I decided to postpone the challenge. I put it away with a plan to bring it out again next New Year's Eve.
So I was done with puzzles for the time being, that is, until I discovered www.jigsawplanet.com. I learned I could put together puzzles, any theme or size, to my hearts content for free online. You are actually timed to see how long it takes you to put your selection together and where you rank with your competition. This feature turned out not to be such a confidence builder for me. I completed a 63-piece frog puzzle in 20 minutes. The top completer finished the same puzzle in 2+ minutes. Determined, I did a 48-piece Mona Lisa in 17 minutes. The best time was slightly over a minute. Bummer! I guess I have a long way to go but can you beat me?
