Puzzle Pieces

I always loved doing puzzles.

Every year on my family’s summer vacation we would find some puzzles to do in our rental cottages. I would choose one, usually the most difficult one that I could find, and for the next week or two make it my project.

I would get a sense of what it should look like then start laying down the frame. Always the frame first to set the boundaries and give it some structure.

Then I would find the unique sections. Maybe there were some special colors in one area, or a different pattern, a face perhaps. It didn’t really matter but on a huge puzzle I had to start filling in the frame somewhere and I went for whatever stood out.

After the obvious pieces were in place, it always got a little more challenging. Perhaps there was a vast section of blue sky, with little to differentiate one blue puzzle piece from dozens of others. My father or sister might help out for awhile.
I felt more disconnected from the sections they worked on as I hadn’t struggled with them myself, yet they were still part of completing the whole.

As more and more of the puzzle came together, the pieces fell in place faster and faster. Finally down to the last dozen or so pieces, I could see how the final result would look and with a last few satisfying snaps, I would sit back to admire the finished product.

Of course, the process of assembling was more fun than when it was actually finished.

But when one puzzle was finished, so it could start all again with a new one.

In the last weeks, life feels like it has reached the last dozen or so pieces of this particular puzzle and they are snapping quickly into place.

I am writing this from what should be my final train ride to Mannheim. On Friday night my phone started ringing off the hook and texts were flying in. I found out that the sales deal I had been supporting the last few weeks had been signed. A contract for a long term project. In Munich.

Like making a puzzle, I have over the last year been putting in place the frame, the sections I could manage and, without realizing it, coming closer and closer to those last dozen or so pieces falling into place. There was help from my friends and family to shape certain sections and sometimes without knowing why or where it was going, I fought to stay in the frame I laid out a year ago.

I called Mr. Kilt to tell him the good news and agreed to meet up with him after dinner with the girls. When I arrived, he had left a trail of post it notes from the front door to the living room. ‘This way for a surprise. -> ‘Only Boston Red Sox fans past this point.’ ‘Congratulations, honey.’ I was giggling like a fool, following one note after the other, until I turned the corner. He was sitting there with a bottle of pink champagne, two glasses, and a big grin, waiting to celebrate the good news!

With that, the last piece of one puzzle snapped into place and, well, I think I will sit back, admire and enjoy it for a little while and get ready to start the next one.

Posted from DB

The Lies Men Tell (or Truths They Don't)

A girlfriend called me up a couple of weeks ago and asked her if I wanted to join her for a friend's birthday party. Not having any big plans and feeling in the mood to go out and meet some more people I agreed.

It was the first night I started to feel that Munich is a bit small. One guy insisted that he had met me before but I was sure I didn't know him. He was Egyptian and rather memorable looking. Somehow the topic switched to photography and the coin dropped for him. He recognized me from a friend's facebook photos. Woah.

After some time, my friend and I were introduced to a Greek, with a name that was almost too Greek to be real. It made me giggle. He is the author of a popular diet book and was just in town for the night on his way to Greece from NYC. After a lengthy discussion on omega 3 fats, the three of us decided to head off as the bar was getting stiflingly hot.

He had lived in Munich for a couple of years so we gave him first choice on where to go. Nothing was happening at his choice so I decided, well, he's Greek. Let's go Greek dancing. The first place, where I normally go for Greek dancing adventures, didn't have live music that night so we headed to the fall back option. The place was packed, the music was live and good, and the Greek was astonished we knew of these places he had never found when living in Munich. I left him and A. to dance and sipped my champagne while admiring the scenery.

Around about time to head home, a guy approached me and asked in German if I was friends with A., my friend I was out with. As it turned out B. had just moved to Munich and is A.'s neighbor. He joined our table, we chatted and I found out B. was from NYC and on 6 month assignment in Germany. We all parted ways with the Greek and B. giving me their cards and asking that I get in touch.

The next day on my cycling tour, I heard my name being called and was quite surprised to see B. cycling towards us. Again a small world. You can only imagine the teasing from my cycling group when I explained I had only met this guy the night before. Anyhow, he was off to meet a friend and asked again that I get in touch so we could go out sometime.

The days passed and I never contacted anyone. Just a feeling that I should wait a little while. Also, I had a sneaking suspicion B. was a Yankees fan.

Tonight my friend A. called me with some news. Her neighbor B. is engaged!

Sad to say that is the 3rd time this situation has happened to me in the last 4 months. First, a colleague who turned out to be married (the colleague part made it a no-no before I found out about the married part anyway). Second, Peter the Capricorn, who was supposedly out playing poker with his guy friends (story to girlfriend) as opposed to on a date with me. He ended up confessing and then seemed surprised when I decided to end the date. I did get a nice SMS the next day, 'I really like you.' Duhlete. And now Mr. I am engaged (but I might end it, but she's coming to visit next week and then we will see). Sheeeeeeeeeeeesh!!!!

Posted from Geneva