Puzzles

I've completed more puzzles since I've been in Austria than I have my entire life. It started off innocent enough. Moritz wanted to put a puzzle together so we finished one that was pretty easy...big pieces and smiling animals. A few more of these and Ingrid and I upgraded to a more challenging puzzle they had lying around the house.
The time we all shared working on the puzzle was fun and in some ways therapeutic (I reflected on times spent here and thought about people at home). We enjoyed celebrating in our small victories when we found a piece that fit and we were even more thrilled when we finished the puzzle. We reveled in a sense of accomplishment.

Then, Ingrid decided to purchase a 500-piece puzzle that highlighted all the various sorts of pastas one could possibly consume...rigatoni, penne, fettuccine, linguine, angel hair, etc. The puzzle was difficult and called for more concentration and less talk. We worked vigorously to complete the puzzle and we accomplished it in good time. In between working the last few pieces and the finished product, I realized that I really like puzzles and putting them together. I mean, I REALLY like puzzles. A lot.

There is something about puzzles that intrigues me and draws me in. Maybe it's because there is only one correct piece that fits in one place and no other...or the fact that sometimes you have to try one piece multiple times to get it to fit...or maybe it's because somewhere in the middle of it the puzzle seems impossible and you want to throw in the towel and then you (finally) get one piece to match and then everything seems better and more achievable. I'm not sure. But whatever it is, I am hooked. And I think I'll be a puzzler for many years to come.

Since the pasta puzzle, the Karlingers and I have put together two more puzzles: of New York City (750 pieces) and Schonbrunn Palace (1000 pieces). The next project is an Austrian countryside puzzle (1000 pieces) that reminds me of Konigswiesen. I've been saving it, but I think I'll open the box soon. :)