I was in a dither shopping for Father's Day. There is little a man 86 years of age needs, or wants - at least not this man. I fussed terribly as I attempted to select several "sure hit" movies, and then I brazenly tossed in a jigsaw puzzle, too.
With Dad's package ready to mail, I dashed to the post office and sent it on its way. However, before I was even out of their parking lot a sense of uncertainty struck me; I began to agonize about the puzzle. That is, until Dad received it! He was ecstatic. The method in my madness was to fill many idle, lonely hours as he dealt with Mother's recent death.
The puzzle scene would surely inspire him, as he'd always been an outdoorsman. It was a rustic log cabin surrounded by mountains and pine trees. I timeworn path led to a sparkling, pristine lake that would beckon any angler. I envisioned him mentally transporting himself there, and reliving old memories of fishing and hunting trips.
Yet, soon I was convinced I should have never sent such a large puzzle. He had all the border pieces out, but they would not fit together.I tried to encourage him. "Dad, I bet you only have one piece out of place. Sometimes a piece appears to fit, although it really doesn't. Keep checking, and double-checking! You'll find it, and then you'll be off and running."
His remarks continued. "I know there are border pieces missing from that darned box!" He was so bamboozled that I finally quit mentioning the blasted puzzle, and he did too. Yep, I was sure he had thrown a fit and tossed it out with the trash.
Several visits later my curiosity had the best of me, so I bravely asked, "Dad, are you still having problems with the border of your puzzle?"
"Oh, heavens no, Kathy," he replied. "Right now I'm working on the three on the right side, and I finally attached the chimney to the roof. That thing hung in thin air for days and nearly drove me batty. Remember that rocky road leading to the cabin - well; I am still fighting that doggone thing." The tone in his voice spoke volumes, and I gleefully pretended to remember every detail he described.
He also remarked, "I sat down to work on the puzzle a few minutes this afternoon. When I finally looked up, it was three hours later and I hadn't even started my dinner!"
At last things were going perfectly. I was all smiles.
When I next inquired about his puzzle, he replied with a very "spirited" tone of voice. "Oh, that? Well, it's been done for a week!"
I nearly dropped the phone. The entire 750-piece puzzle was finished, and I had one very proud Papa on my hands. It took everything in me not to giggle and do a jig. He reminded me of a little boy, terribly confident of his skills, and he wanted the world to know!
Then Dad launched into an interrogation about gluing puzzles together! How do you explain "Mod Podge" long distance, to a man? He'd think I was speaking a foreign language. I asked him to be patient, and assure him I would take care of it on my next trip home, as well as the framing.
When we spoke again, he mentioned knowing exactly where he wanted the puzzle hung. Was this a hint that I needed to visit soon and finish the project? His next words nearly knocked my socks off. "I have three coats of glue on the front, and two on the back!"
I was dumbstruck. "Dad, how did you know what to buy? Are you sure you used the right thing?"
He replied with a rather "puffed-up" tone in his voice. "Yes, I used the right stuff! I bought it at Wal-Mart - I'm not helpless, you know."
"But, but...did you ask a clerk to help you?"
"Well, no! I just went to the Arts and Crafts Department. Good grief, I can still read labels on bottles! Now I need to apply the finish coat."
"Finish coat, what is that?" I screeched with humiliation. My pop knew more about the puzzle business than me!
"Without a finish coat it might get tacky in humid weather. The glue bottle says so!"
Obviously, he needed no help with the gluing procedure as it was already a done deal.
It's time to chat again, and I've braced myself for anything. I doubt Dad will even buy a frame. He'll probably whip out his old miter box and fabricate one for his masterpiece. After all, he can build anything, such as the home I grew up in, although he was a tad bit younger then.
Who knows, this might be the start of something new. Maybe Dad will go into the framing business at age 86! There's a first time for everything, and as he previously explained, "I'm not helpless, you know!"
Kathleene S. Baker
You can view more of Kathleene's stories at: www.txyellowrose.com or email her your comments on this story to: Lnstrlady@aol.com
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Be Your Best, Do What It Takes, Have What You Want!!!
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You can achieve your personal best!!
