First of all, can we just take a moment to enjoy that word? Puzzle. Puzzle. Puzzlepuzzlepuzzle.
Delightful!
A friend in Oregon gave me the best gift idea last week: find a favorite family photo and have it turned into a jigsaw puzzle, then send it to said family. I did just that, using this image from (I think) 1966:
Now, in a week when many families are gathering and giving gifts I’m grooving on exactly why that gift felt so satisfying. Here’s what I came up with:
Safe activity. Puzzles are an inherent “safe space” for groups–rather like going for a walk, where you’re all facing the same direction with the whole natural world at your disposal to discuss or simply enjoy in silence. Except, unlike walks, puzzles can be done in any weather, and by folks in almost any physical condition. (Yes, of course there are physical challenges to puzzling too, like eyesight and manual coordination.)
- Memories. Piecing together a photograph of a shared past will naturally elicit memories, and from there everything flows. (Is “everything” always good? Of course not. But I think if any family is able to sit down and puzzle together, they’re probably also ready to discuss memories.) To my mind, over a puzzle, the chances of growing closer outweigh the chances of greater family rupture.
- The metaphor. I’m not saying my family will explicitly discuss the way we three girls “fit” (or didn’t) as we were growing up; of the way our Oma left a hole when she died suddenly in 1977; of the fact that this photo of “we five” plus the three grandparents represents the ONLY capturing of this particular group of eight within any rectangle…but I’ll bet a million dollars thoughts like those flit through the minds of anyone who works that puzzle, whether this year or into the future.
(Not pictured: Metaphors)
So here’s a fun holiday-time question for you: if you were to pick a family photo for any of your family members to puzzle over together, what would you choose, and why?
Happy Solstice, Merry Christmas, much joy and warmth and hope to all!
Wing's World 
Great idea. Thanks for sharing it. Where does one get a photo changed into a puzzle? Happy Christmas.
Rita, there are lots of companies who do it, but I used portraitpuzzles.com Thanks for reading, and happy Christmas to y’all as well!
What a fun idea! How wonderful to have that photo of your family with your three grandparents. That’s a treasure, indeed. So did you send puzzles to more than one family member? Or will you all gather together to piece together the puzzle and share memories?
I’m not sure what photo I would choose from the epic collection my folks left me to sort through, lol. I do love the family photos of us on camping trips, though.
Happy holidays! And may the coming year be filled with many joyful adventures for you. 🙂
Y’know, the friend who gave me the idea does just that: sends puzzles to family members spread around the country. I’d definitely like to try that in future years, but parts of my fam are dealing with some serious health issues right now, so I only sent it to my parents.
Thanks for your wishes! The same back to you!