Lose Your Marbles

Ever have one of those days? That's probably a silly question. Of course you have - most of us have those days! You know the ones I'm talking about. The kind where you're certain THIS is the day you will, undoubtedly, lose your marbles. You step out of bed, ready to embrace the weekend with gusto...and trip over a metal Tonka truck you'd swear the kid positioned there on purpose. You make it to the bathroom only to realize (a little too late) that there's not a square of Charmin to be found. Your husband has already headed out for 12 hours of golf (I mean, it's only fair after a tough week at work, right? *insert sarcastic eyeroll here*) Just down the hall, you can hear Spongebob Squarepants blaring and can picture your children's eyes glued to the sponge in HD. You cry out to them, imploring them to spare just a square (think Elaine from Seinfeld). It's as if they don't hear you, but you know that's not possible, because they can hear you two towns over. After 5 minutes of pleading, one of them shows mercy and brings you the roll from their bathroom. Which has 2 squares left on it. Now you've got the picture, right?

This is a "losing your marbles" kind of day in my book. But let's get to addressing the true inspiration for this post. MARBLES. Well, puzzles, really. There were gobs of them at the $1 Store and I couldn't help myself. Rummaging through kitties and flowers and quaint country scenes, I see the winner - MARBLES. Only 500 pieces? I wonder how this could possibly challenge my wildly intellectual mind long enough to be worth even a measly dollar? Shoot, that puppy will be done in 10 minutes flat. Fuhgettaboutit, puzzle. Fascinated and eager to prove my puzzle prowess, I hand over my buck. I start it that night and am surprised at how relaxing it is. Mama needs an outlet - could this be it? The family has no desire to pitch in, which quite frankly is a relief. You're mine, multi-colored marbles. Puzzle schmuzzle. The outer frame goes together like nothing. At 1:00am I decide perhaps it's time to retire for the evening and wonder if they should have put a warning on the box for people with a touch of OCD to steer clear. I work on it here and there as I pass by. If I had more time to devote, surely it would have been completed already. But I'm a busy, working mother with responsibilities for goodness sake. It's A LOT of marbles. And so many different colors that look disturbingly similar. I digress and surrender to the power of the measly 500 piecer. It was a long, arduous process. But strangely gratifying. Pounding my chest in true caveman style, I watch it take form over the course of 3 days. I can feel my heart rate increase as I realize my diligence has paid off and I'm down to the last 20-30 pieces. (I'm slightly concerned at how invigorated I am. I actually used to have a life - I swear!) Now I'm rolling and they're fitting in with little effort. Oranges, reds, greens, blues, swirling together, but now forming a discernible picture. I put the last piece in place only to realize...it's NOT the last one at all! The outline of a lone, empty space seems to taunt me. Deflated, I search the floor, on hands and knees, sure it has to be there. I sweep, I hunt, I interrogate small children. To no avail - it could have become a dog treat. Or maybe this is what a dollar gets you these days.. I just wanted to check it off my To Do List. I wanted to shout BOO-YAH! I accomplished something and it felt good! I stared at that missing piece for quite some time before acknowledging the irony. Marbles. So many marbles. All of them laughing hysterically along with me as I realize today was just another "lose your marbles" sort of day.

P.S. Photo was not acquired via google.com. Nope, it's the puzzle, people. Cross my heart.