My New Happy: A Puzzle For Gran

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

A Puzzle For Gran


My younger son has loved to do puzzles since he was a very small boy.  It was an activity that he often did with his Grandmother.  The two of them would sit quietly, working for hours, passing pieces back and forth until the picture emerged.  


The last puzzle Gran bought sat unopened in her room for three years.  Her dementia had reached a point where she was no longer able to focus on the task at hand, and T didn't want to do it without her.  

Sadly, my mother-in-law passed away in February.  As we were packing up her home, my boys were very stoic, helping where they could, but not saying much.  When T discovered the unopened puzzle, the tears finally came, and he asked if he could take it home.

I had completely forgotten about that puzzle until T brought it with us on vacation this year.  He asked if we could put it together as a family, as a special tribute to Gran.  We spread the pieces out on the coffee table, and throughout the week everyone spent time making the picture come alive.  

If you are a puzzle person, you will know that the prize at the end is putting the final piece into the picture.  As it was nearing completion, we realized that we were missing two pieces.  We searched but could not find them.  Finally, my niece pulled one of them from her sleeve, telling us that she had hidden it there so she could finish the puzzle.  My husband replied that he liked her thought process, but he was way ahead of her.  He then pulled the final piece from his pocket and handed it to T.  It seemed only fitting that he should complete this puzzle.


I like to think that she was watching over us as we put together the puzzle, pleased that she had passed her love on to T.  This one was for you, Gran.

28 comments:

  1. What a very thoughtful son you have! Beautiful story!

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  2. Not only a touching story about your son and his lovely attachment to his Gran, but a reminder to us Grans that we leave our children and grandchildren with a wonderful legacy when we spend time with our kids and Grands, doing things we love to do and opening that world up to them too.

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    1. So true. My mother in law loved spending time with my boys. She wasn't able to do much physically, but she always read to them and they had great conversations with them.

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  3. This is a lovely story. So sorry for your loss but she seems to have left behind such wonderful memories!

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    1. Thank you Donna! We do have great memories of her.

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  4. A very sad, and touching, story... Thank you for sharing

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  5. Awww. Those who have gone before continue to touch our lives and that's lovely, isn't it?

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  6. What a truly beautiful story. You can be certain she was with you! How wonderful that your boys have a strong sense of family. Thanks for sharing it!
    Suzanne
    chapter-two.net

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    1. Thank you Suzanne. My younger son is so big on "tradition"!

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  7. What a special memory! I buy a new puzzle every Christmas for my husband and kids to put together. It's one of our favorite traditions!

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    1. That sounds like fun. Maybe we will transition to that new tradition!

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  8. I like how your husband was also thinking of his mom and son. Family love all around!

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    1. My husband always seems to be one step ahead of everyone else!

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  9. I love puzzles! Great pics & thank you for sharing!

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    1. Thank you. I forgot how much I enjoy puzzles too.

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  10. What a lovely story Lana, its great to see families that are connected in this way. Grandparents are so important in our kids lives and they make ever lasting bonds with them that are priceless.

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    1. So true. My kids have been very lucky to spend lots of time with their grandparents and great-grandparents.

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  11. You know how I feel about this one Lana. Tears running down my face! Give T. a big hug for me because I know Gran was watching with a big smile on her face to be remembered so sweetly. I loved this! And on a much happier note I won!!!! First time I've gotten to gloat since you got home!

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    1. Oh, Rena! You made me tear up reading your comment! Yes, you did win!!! I need to come up with a good prize for you...

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    2. Haha! No prize expected or necessary bragging rights is all I needed lol! Glad you had a great vacation with your family especially to such a beautiful place! Your sons will/are going to be some AMAZING men one day because of that! Be very proud! Not only of them but yourself!

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  12. Oh, how sweet is that! Such a loving way to pay tribute to a great relationship.

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  13. What a beautiful tribute to his grandmother. And what a beautiful memory. Love this.

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    1. Thank you. I'm thinking of framing the puzzle - we rolled it up and brought it home.

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  14. I thought I already commented, but I have been working from my phone and I don't think it has been reliable! What a lovely post - and wonderful tribute. Framing the puzzle would be the perfect thing to do!
    Puzzles are always present at every one of our family gatherings too - I will share more about that sometime as well.
    Thanks for this beautiful story.

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