Dec31

piecing it together.

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as a person who loves puzzles

since i learned

team puzzle competitions were a thing

i’ve wanted to compete in one

 finally the opportunity arose

the night of the event arrived

people in teams of four

would compete to finish the same unknown puzzle

in the shortest period of time

my team’s name was 

‘the last piece is under the table’

there were 12 competing teams

beverages and snacks and rules

a little friendly trash-talking

  giant timer on a screen counting the seconds, minutes, hours

each team had their own strategies, methods, plans

part of the challenge is working in a team itself

each person has their own way of solving puzzles

 with different levels of competitive spirit and ingenuity

but i consider that part of the puzzle too

trying to solve how to work together as one

to complete the puzzle on the table  

the judge started the clock

the buzzer went off

when we opened the wrapping

it was a circular, colorful, 500 piece

we threw everything on the floor 

dumped the pieces on the table

and were off

as expected, we all had different strengths and strategies

adapting as we went, changing spots, some stood, some sat

communication was key

‘who has the pink dots, is that a bird’s beak, what does that word say, look for purple…’

personalities were revealed

in an ebb and flow of emotions

we worked as fast as we could

 suddenly 

the team behind us

who all stayed seated and worked silently 

announced they were finished just 40 minutes in

mind blown

only motivated us more

i was literally sweating 

quite a workout

we kept working as fast as we could

while one team after another

completed their puzzles 

we did not stop

at one point it was clear we would be the last team

we had a good laugh

exhausted

but refused to give up

i asked how late they would be open

finally

at 1 hour and 50 minutes

we did it!

and it was fun!

i was just happy to finish 

i’ll be back to try again

when talking to the judge after 

he said the silent sitting team that won so quickly

go to the world championships each year

(what?! world championships?!)

they have not yet won at that level

but enter these competitions

to stay sharp and practice

makes good sense

now i feel

it’s may be only a matter of time 

 i’ll be writing about a puzzle competition from italy one day

but in the meantime

i had a blast

 we had no pieces under the table

and that’s something.

—

‘a group is a bunch of people in an elevator.

a team is a bunch of people in an elevator, but the elevator is broken.’ 

-bonnie edelstein, parade magazine

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75 responses »

  16. This sounds like a lot of fun! Team based competitions are fun because part of the challenge is learning to coordinate and work towards the common goal. I can see the hilarity in the situation too. Even though you came in last, you never gave up and finished!

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  18. Oh, I love that quote! What a fun competition and I love the way you told it. Especially some sitting and some standing – that totally resonated with puzzling. I didn’t know that you could do world championship puzzling. How wonderful!

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  22. What fun! Hey, knowing the winners competed in world championships must have made you feel better. One of my favorite activities at school is doing puzzles with children. Ravensburger puzzles are my faves. Starting with 35-piece in September and growing to 60 (or 80) -piece puzzles is a great pleasure. Can you tell I love puzzles? 😀

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  23. Great story! I love your team name and about asking how long they would be open. I read somewhere that there was a time limit for marathons or triathalons. What if you were close to the end and someone told you, “You’re too late!”

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  26. Wow, I didn’t know you can do that in a competition. Congratulations for getting to do it 🤗 “Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit” (pronounced: “Ah-vleen fwee vosh-eh gwitch”), which translates to “A prosperous New Year to you.” New Years greetings from Ireland to you, yours and your readers 🥰

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  31. Wow! I have never heard of that! I might enjoy it! I also do have a “method to my madness” in how I put a puzzle together. this winter my carving, travel and photography have taken over, and I have yet to break out my first puzzle for this Winter.

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  32. who knew???? What a fun thing to do, although I’d be stressed and probably unable to find a single piece. LOLOL Sounds like a lot of fun and world championship…unreal. I just finished 2 puzzels and three books. Started a new 500 piece puzzel and Bunny wants to help. I do hope you go again. Sounds like a good time.

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  35. Looks like the fun was worth it.

    Waiting for the post from Italy 😉.

    I made a customized puzzle of our family portrait and I couldn’t fit one piece. I assumed I would be great at putting puzzles together. Apparently not.
    My son finished it all in good time.

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