Drabble by Kevin Fagan for April 12, 2016

I used to do this when I was a kid.

The right way, the wrong way, and the Mensa way.

Patrick must have been adopted.

I had a round puzzle that was solid green. It took me a very, very long time to put together.

When I finished a particularly difficult puzzle, I would flip it over and NUMBER the pieces so I could put it together more quickly the next time. :o) Only worked on puzzles that had the pieces in nice neat rows/columns. I don’t do that anymore.

I always have a jigsaw puzzle going. The time passes very quickly while I’m working on it. I have some from the 50s; dad and I would work them together, we did paint-by-number too, now you see these old pictures at antique stores. Thanks for these lifetime hobbies dad.

The wickedest puzzle I ever did (or didn’t, as the case may be) was Little Red Riding Hood’s Hood. Circular and red. I wasn’t able to find even two pieces that fit together.

My dad had a round one with old cars on it. He was putting it together one time and I wanted so much to work on it. Mom said Daddy wanted to do it himself. Since he worked 2nd shift, we kids only saw him on weekends. So I would work on the puzzle but not put the pieces down all the way. Then when I finished, I would take them back out and scatter them around. He never knew and we both had fun.

I had that also (gift from my Mom). I got the outside done & a few inside, then it just got to be too much- seeing the red all the time no matter where I put the puzzle.

Some online puzzle websites include Jigidi … JS Puzzles … and Puzzle Warehouse. All are fun—check ’em out.

I take pictures of the puzzles when I have finished them.