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To
most people it would seem to be just a jigsaw puzzle,
but from the tone in Dad's voice it was going to be
much more than that ??“ it almost implied "party time."
My plan had been that it would pass the time, hold his
interest, and be simply something different in his
daily routine.
Mind
you, buying gifts for a man 86 years of age is not an
easy task. Christmas requires making notes all year
long as ideas come to mind, and then comes his
birthday two weeks later! I've done everything from
making and framing special cross-stitch items, to
sending him a huge bouquet of balloons that would
barely fit through the front door! The balloons,
which were weighted down with a big bag of candy were
a great surprise, and he was as thrilled as any kid
would be.
I
wasn't able to be with Dad on Father's Day this year,
but did speak with him on the phone. His package from
us had arrived and included an assortment of movies
and a jigsaw puzzle. He loves watching movies so I
knew they would please him, but I had been holding my
breath about the puzzle. Doing one with several
people is one thing ??“ doing one alone might not go
over so well. I hadn't realized until this past
Christmas he even enjoyed jigsaw puzzles. After the
other holiday company left, I got out a puzzle for us
to work on for the remainder of his visit. That man
would literally sit and work on it until I made him
get up and walk around. I was afraid he was going
freeze in his "sitting" position. When my husband and
I would get up in the morning he would be drinking
coffee and already hard at work on the puzzle. He was
still here on New Years Eve and that's how the three
of us brought in the New Year - at his insistence I
might add! We hadn't seen midnight on New Year's Eve
in years. It took a man 85 years young to show us how
it's done. You sit there oh so weary, keeping one eye
on the clock. Just prior to midnight you must pour a
glass of wine for a toast ??“ whether you want it or
not, and you work on "the jigsaw puzzle" until Dad
says you can go to bed!
He's
especially active considering his age and still does
his own yard work, grows a garden that is envied by
everyone, cooks his own meals, and does his laundry.
He did finally break down and hire a girl to clean
house. Every time she cleans he tells me she didn't
put things back in the right position on tables and
such, but at least the house is clean. Mom had him
spoiled when it came to a neat and tidy house! He's
able to do so much more than most folks his age, but
he also has many idle, lonely hours to fill.
When
we spoke on Father's Day, I began my "prepared
lecture" about his new jigsaw
puzzle. "The dog days of summer are nearly here and
you do all your work outside early in the morning.
You can't play solitaire (his usual "time killer") all
day so I thought you might enjoy a puzzle for a change
of pace. And, Dad, the card table isn't comfortable
for
you. Besides, you don't want it cluttering up the
house. I want you to just dump the puzzle on the
dining room table. And, if you have company coming
and don't want the mess in sight, simply cover it with
a tablecloth and no one will even see it."
He
came back with, "the box is already open, and sitting
on the table, I just haven't dumped it out yet!" Oh,
I was tickled right down to my toes knowing the puzzle
had been a hit. And, if smiles could be "heard" ??“ he
would have heard my heart smiling! I had purposely
picked a puzzle that reminded me of Dad and his
interests. It was a rustic cabin in the woods with an
old battered fishing boat tied to a dock on a lake. I
figured he might daydream while working on the
puzzle. Maybe he'd place himself there waiting for
sun up, so he could hop in that boat and go fishing.
Or, he might recall memories of times in the past when
he was in a scenic area that looked exactly like that.
Just
as we were ending our phone conversation he quickly
interrupted and asked, "what's that stuff people use
to glue puzzles together with?" I knew right then
that the puzzle was more than a hit! He had plans to
create a piece of art and he wanted it framed for the
world to see. He's now a man on a mission - without a
doubt. I vaguely remember having a conversation about
framing puzzles with someone, and Dad was present, but
I had no idea he was paying attention. Wrong again!
I told him about the glue and that I had some, and
assured him I'd bring it on our next visit. I
promised that after the gluing was finished I would
also frame it for him. He finally seemed satisfied
that he had the answers to all his urgent questions,
and we both said, "I love you" and then "goodbye."
Later in the day it struck me. He had bought his kids
plenty of puzzles, but no one had ever given him
one. Finally, at the age of 86 he had a puzzle to
call his very own.
And
how strange ??“ he hadn't even mentioned his movies!
And
to think, it was "just a jigsaw puzzle"??¦??¦??¦??¦??¦??¦??¦
?©
2004 Kathy Baker
I
was born and raised in the small town of Augusta,
Kansas that is only a few miles outside of Wichita. I
married a native Texan in 1977 and was soon
transplanted to Dallas. A large city offers many
things, but I miss the slower pace of small town
America. I have two stepchildren and three
grandchildren. Pets have always played a
huge
part in my life, and I can't imagine a home without
them. In fact, they were my inspiration to begin
writing. In the past year I've had stories or poems
featured by Starfish, Storytime Tapestry, Inspired
Buffalo, and Petwarmers. Just recently I was more
than honored when Starfish added me to their Wall of
Fame as a Featured Writer! I've always felt one
mission in my life was to give loving homes to the
dear creatures God has provided for us ??“ they are
always at our side with their unconditional love.
Kathy Baker
Lnstrlady @ aol. com |
