New Puzzle Pieces

Posted on by Emily R
New pieces to my puzzle life

My journey to discover myself through moments of my life has slowed down lately. I’ve been able to pinpoint a few situations that have contributed to my slowing down. Some of the new puzzle pieces are:

  • A decision to move to new apartment.  
  • The passing away of an Art teacher I used to work with and gave class to my kids.
  • The deteriorating health of my favorite aunt.

These situations have made me stop my journey briefly. You know, the concept of prioritizing and taking baby steps. Otherwise, you can easily fall into the trap of overwhelming yourself. I have taken some time to deal with issues.

First New Puzzle Piece

The decision to move is based on that I’m home now because of Covid19 and have less income. As a result, my husband and I have decided to move. If we get the new apartment, it will be closer to my husband’s job. A shorter distance means a shorter commute. The savings of gas, tire wear, and time will be worth it. Plus, we can give up Spectrum and the water bills because these services are included in the new rent. (A savings of almost $200) a month. Woohoo! Just waiting for the approval from the new apartment facilities. 

     But first, some sad news…my friend Mr. Miguel Charriez, a unique Art teacher has passed away last week.

Second New Puzzle Piece

A great colleague in the school I worked at. He was a genuine artist and master of different mediums: paint, sculpture, wood carvings, drawing, restoring art pieces especially for the church.

Some of his art

An inspirational Art teacher who shared his creativity, sensibility and techniques with all students including my 3 kids when they were in elementary school. He even shared some lessons with me in which I was told I have talent; I just need the techniques. I learned some from him.

Thank you, Mr. Charriez, for being you and for sharing yourself with us! May you rest in peace and delight heaven with your art! I’m sure the angels are celebrating with you! My heart goes out to the town of Naranjito, Puerto Rico from where Mr. Charriez was born, lived, worked, created, and left us for a better place. Hopefully, we shall meet again someday!

Mr. Charriez is an important piece of the Life puzzle I’m trying to discover. My interest in Art grew with the knowledge that Mr. Charriez shared. Because of his influence, I took a Modern Art history course and a course about illustrating storyboards while using different mediums. This bad news got balanced out with some good news.

My New Apartment Building

My new rental apartment was approved. I’ll be moving at the end of September 2020. Although the apartment has one less bedroom than what we have now, it’s in a nice neighborhood closer to my husband’s workplace. I love the kitchen’s newly updated cabinets. I can’t wait to start saving more, too. This new puzzle piece is not yet defined because it’s still an on-going adventure.

Third New Puzzle Piece

But Life has its ups and downs. A third new puzzle piece came into being. You know what they say, things come in threes. When I got the exciting news about the approval for the new rental, I called my sister in Puerto Rico to let her know the good news. She mentions that our favorite Aunt, Tití Lola, who lives in Puerto Rico has not been well. Her health has been deteriorating quickly the last few months.

Apparently, Alzheimer’s disease is doing what it’s famous for. Lately, she has walked a lot less than what she used to. Late at night, the sounds of her tinkering around the house can be heard. Her daughter, who lives upstairs, is genuinely concerned. What if she were to fall? What if she wanted to cook late at night and burn herself? What if she went outside at midnight? What if…?

The oldest daughter decided to send her to a nursing home nearby. So, my aunt can receive the needed attention for her health conditions at this time. Tití Lola will receive physical therapy to help with her walking, and that means that my aunt should be safer at night.  The visits will be limited to seeing Tití Lola in her balcony. No face to face visits are allowed because of the pandemic.

This situation that Tití Lola is going through, and her immediate family makes me feel sad and helpless. She lives in Puerto Rico, and I live in upstate NY. The only thing I can think of that can help is to pray for her health and for the family’s strength and wisdom to deal with the crisis.

Mom
My second Mom

When my parents divorced in the beginning of 1976, Tití Lola offered part of her home to Mom. For years Mom had wanted to go back to where she was born and raised. What kept her in New York was her marriage with Dad. Besides, most of her siblings were living in Puerto Rico. It was a plus to go back to be with family and people that really cared for us. With the divorce, there was nothing to hold her back in New York.

My success to adapting to living in Puerto Rico was due to the unconditional support from Tití Lola. My sister and I spent a few summers in Tití’s home when younger. So, when we had to go live with her, we knew what to expect in everything except school.

School was a vastly different experience than back in NY. But Tití Lola gave us all the support needed to grow and succeed. She even helped me understand the reading material from school. She is a book lover and shared her love of reading with me. Until this day, I still love to read!

There were times I felt Mom was on my case! I would go to my confidante Tití Lola and bare my soul with her. Tití explained to me Mom was going through a lot and I had to be more understanding. That she understood my end, but I had to learn to deal with it. My aunt was wise and gentle in the conversations we had. She always gave me sound advice that I could follow. (Even into adulthood).

That’s why I am sad for my Tití Lola. Such a strong woman, with a great faith that she shared with me. She shared her wisdom and love of books. I have always considered her like a second mom.

While Mom was nervous and unsure of herself for a while, Tití Lola was firm and stable. A person who helped lead Mom, my sister, and myself to a better life. She was an important factor of getting Mom unto the road to recovery.

I pray that God will be gentle with her during the time she has left. She has earned her keep for one of the rooms You, Father, have for each of us. She was a church volunteer in her neighborhood for her catholic parish visiting the sick, praying for anyone who needed, and praying the rosary every day at home.

My Tití Lola
2020

Thank you, Tití Lola, for being you. A person with a great heart, though with faults, just like any of us. Yet, at the same time, a person with great virtues! I love you!

So, three new puzzle pieces are to be added to my jigsaw puzzle of Life. At least not all is bad. I have something to look forward which is the new apartment. I already started packing!

My 3 New Puzzle Pieces

I will go back to drawing and painting to honor the memory of Mr. Charriez teaching me some of his techniques.

I will pray for my Tití Lola and her immediate family. I pray that God showers them with many blessings to enjoy, wisdom to do the right thing, and strength to continue everyday life.

My journey of discovering continues whether I like it or not. Whether I write it down or not, time keeps ticking away. Will I ever complete my journey? I don’t know yet…What do you think? Please share your thoughts with me below!

Don’t forget to click on the following posts to learn more about how Life puzzle pieces fit in your life: A Puzzle, About Me, Welcome to My Blog, Why Read My Blog?

  

55 thoughts on “New Puzzle Pieces”

  1. Thank you for sharing this! Sometimes it is easy to feel lost and alone, especially when life gets in your way. I appreciate you sharing where you are at this moment and how life, situations, and needs have directed you to new challenges and opportunities. Using puzzle pieces help put everything in perspective and the tributes you shared. I wish you much success on your journey…remember that it is a journey, not your destination.

    Reply

    1. Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate you taking the time to write back. I find that the puzzle pieces help me connect to the bigger picture of Life. I am a product of different moments that have occurred during my 60 years of living on this planet.

      Reply

  2. Thank you for sharing this! Sometimes it is easy to feel lost and alone, especially when life gets in your way. I appreciate you sharing where you are at this moment and how life, situations, and needs have directed you to new challenges and opportunities. Using puzzle pieces help put everything in perspective and the tributes you shared. I wish you much success on your journey…remember that it is a journey, not your destination.

    Reply

    1. Thank you for your thoughts. I also thank you for the reminder that it is a journey. By piecing together my puzzle moments, I get to see how I became the person I am today. And that jigsaw puzzle will continue to evolve with each new puzzle piece encountered everyday.

      Reply

  3. Heart warming post! Hope you enjoy this little journey of life, you have written it beautifully. Prayers for your aunt and happy savings to you

    Reply

    1. Thanks! I have been saving with the new place. An update about my wonderful aunt. She passed away about 3 weeks after moving into the nursing home. I was very upset about it. Because of the pandemic, there was no services given for the extended family. Only her son and daughters with their immediate core families. I still have one aunty left. The other day I Facetimed with her. She is 97. We laughed a lot together!

      Reply

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