finish a puzzle, retrieve a husband

I know a lot of you out there are puzzle- lovers. Until a few weeks ago, however, I didn't know I was married to one. One evening after Julia had fallen asleep, we thought we'd play a game. Wackee Six seemed a little too involved and Boggle would take too much thought. Out of the blue, I suggested we work on a puzzle. "We have one!?" Jonny exclaimed as his eyes widened. I dug out a floral puzzle we had received as a gift years ago.

This is when I learned the methods of puzzling. Jonny began explaining how we'd go about putting together this 1000 piecer. I didn't realize so much went into a little jigsaw! Anyway, we worked on it that night for quite a while, hardly accomplishing anything (in my opinion, at least. Jonny seemed to think we had made great progress). And there the puzzle sat for over a week. Discouraged by the complexity of the puzzle (the flowers were nearly all the same color!) I hardly ever touched it again. Jonny, however, would return home from work, kiss me, make Julia giggle a little, then sit down to the puzzle and work until I covered it up with place-mats so we would eat dinner on the kitchen table!

Well, time went on, and Jonny surprised me by announcing that he was going to tear apart what he had completed (probably about half of the difficult puzzle). I reassured him that I didn't mind it being out on the table (for a little while longer) but he insisted that he and the puzzle were through.

I don't know why or how this post is going so long, but there is more to tell! I will try to make part two brief:

At Macey's on Friday night, we came upon a 1000 piece puzzle that looked more our style. I could tell Jonny had an itch to accomplish what he had set out to do with the first puzzle, so we brought it home and worked on it for about an hour. I was actually quite into this one - it had a lot more variety and I could relate to it as it was a painting of SLC. (The flower puzzle was so impersonal. Not to mention out of season.) Anyway, the next day Jonny was at the puzzle when he had even a spare minute. Didn't I realize I'd lose my husband to that puzzle just as I had to the other!? Well, I helped out a lot with this one. Partly because it was more on my level and partly because I wanted Jonny back!

Thus, I am very proud to announce that we completed our first puzzle together last night. There was a great sense of satisfaction that came with popping in the last two pieces in unison. And though it was fun and festive, I am happy to see it go and have Jonny back...until the next time a puzzle crosses our path.
P.S. While puzzling, Jonny noted the satisfying sound of a cardboard piece being pushed into place (when surrounded by fellow pieces). As a now-accomplished puzzler, I must admit that there is something thrilling about that sound.