Day 4

Another day to be thankful. Today I am thankful for puzzles.

My challenge in China was finding time for any hobbies at all. Even sewing,which is one of my happiest places, was something I did pretty rarely and generally under some time deadline. My challenge during this unexpectedly long "layover" has been creating a life that does not include binge watching TV 18 hours a day.  Kidding (kind of).

Then last summer (as in 2020) a friend began sending me puzzles. (Thanks Karen!!) It happens that she does a LOT of puzzles, so she had many that she could send me when she finished them. Not only was I getting MAIL, but I now had a hobby. I will admit to not being as prolific a puzzler as my friend, but I have done a dozen or more over the last year, and I have really enjoyed it. Some have been easy; some have been a bit more challenging; a few have been really challenging. Regardless, there is nothing quite like the satisfaction of putting that final piece in or the excitement of opening a new box of puzzles. (Did I say I like MAIL?)

As I thought about being thankful for the puzzles, I realized that my thankfulness goes deeper than the puzzles themselves. I am thankful for such a thoughtful and generous friend who saw a need and filled it with no expectations. I am also thankful for the happy memories I have of my dad putting together puzzles on winter evenings or rainy Saturdays. He had a spot in our basement with a couple of card tables, a bright light, and a magnifying glass. He did 1000, 1500, 2000 piece puzzles, round puzzles, edgeless puzzles, and more. And best of all he let me help. I think he enjoyed that we shared the same interest, but as I have grown up I am also thankful that he was willing to share the little personal time that he had. It was a gift that I didn't understand at 12, but a memory that I cherish now. Thanks, Daddy.