Work That Brain!

I love picture puzzles. I love jigsaw puzzles. Whatever you want to call them, I love sitting, touching, fingering, and finding a home for each solitary piece.

My fondest memories of my childhood and youth are of coming home after school, putting a recording of a Broadway musical or Gilbert & Sullivan operetta on the turntable, and singing along at the top of my lungs while putting together a picture puzzle. I loved those times and relive them every time I hear one of those pieces of music again.

Saturday night, after attending Dreams and Other Pools of Light in which my daughter-in-law danced and my son was musical director, I took the g'babes home with me so Ty and Jaci could attend the cast party. I pulled out my favorite picture puzzle—an old Springbok puzzle showing all the little people and cars and trucks that run around inside a computer to make the information come out—and we listened to tunes off our iPods while we assembled the puzzle. When their daddy came to pick them up at 10:30, they asked if he wanted to help us. He said, "Why, yes. I've done that picture puzzle many times." It was a very sweet moment for me.

Yesterday afternoon I opened my weekly e-mail from The New Yorker and learned they are now puzzleifying the New Yorker covers!!! Such sweet joy! I've been doing puzzles at JigZone for years. But what a treat this new service from The New Yorker is. I can assemble the cover image, then click to read feature articles from the magazine!

As my brain ages and finding words becomes slower and more laborious, this activity can only help, right?