Puzzles

I sent this picture to my beloved Doob this morning with the text, “Practicing for the home.”

We bought this puzzle in Fort Mallaig, Scotland. We is Kris and moi. It was in a pile of books and various games & puzzles in the foyer outside of a closed used bookstore. Honour system. We scrounged the depths of our pockets and found £2.60.

After an afternoon in Mallaig and riding the train over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, Kris, Todd and I took our treasure back to the lovely apartment in Fort William. The Viaduct is famous for being the tracks for The Jacobite Steam Engine Train AKA Hogwarts Express. There is a steam train that usually runs along with the commuter train but it is down for repairs. Every geezer and geek who wanted the experience was on the noon train with us. We did not get seats on the way out but were rewarded in the afternoon with great views after lunch at Chlachain Inn and afternoon tea at The Tea Room.

Back to Puzzles

Kris and I soon discovered that the vibrant colours on the box were not mirrored on the pieces. Perhaps, £2.60 was enough. We started the channel boat and edges but ran out of time. I want to mention that this puzzle was chosen because we watched some episodes of a delightful English couple Tim West and Prunella Scales on a BBC show called, “Great Canal Journeys.” My dear friend Todd, who is one of the kindest, most loving and gracious souls that I know laughed every time at the glint in Tim’s eyes when he drove his wife into overhanging trees in the intro.

Back to puzzles

What’s on the inside didn’t match the outside. At one point today I put a piece into the framework that “should have worked” but I knew it wouldn’t. How? Because, I had already done it five times. And, yet, I could not stop myself. Today, I remembered Kris moving a piece to a new orientation and saying something about changing perspective. And, it didn’t work. I have one more full day in this lovely home in Edinburgh with Belle. I thought about packing it up. I won’t finish it. But, then, I saw a piece that practically slotted itself. And, then, another.

As I do this puzzle and reflect on behaviours and think about perspective, I am reminded how much life is a puzzle.

Very often, people are not on the inside what they are on the outside. Pretty faces can hide ugly souls. Shy and quiet people guarding a treasure trove of talents. Gregarious extroverts masking the frightened child within.

And, as we try to put the pieces together in our relationships we often try to make things fit that never will. We try even when we know it doesn’t work. We can change our view for a new perspective and get nothing. In life, there are times to pack it up. Like a puzzle with missing pieces or one that you’ve run out of time with which to fiddle.

But, there are the moments when the pieces fall into place. And places to celebrate that. Like Scotland. I will always be grateful to Kris and Todd for the invitation and inclusion.