One full day in South Carolina would never have been enough, but it was very satisfying. For breakfast Chris and Steve served Norwegian pancakes, a favorite of mine. That’s something I have never prepared for myself. A vital ingredient – family love — would be missing.

The night before, Steve brought out a huge jigsaw puzzle. He explained he worked it and was giving it to me as a memorial for John. I was thrilled. What a lovely tribute it was! He said later that he was thinking of John and our family while he put it together. There were lots of memories bound up with it.

I didn’t think about how it could be taken back to NC. The next morning five of us were standing beside the car, and Chris Pollock asked if we could guess where he stowed it. It was not visible, even with the trunk open! The very large puzzle was somehow hidden in a smallish car. It defied reason. When we couldn’t guess where it was, Chrissie pointed upwards. I leaned down and saw that it was strapped to the ceiling!!!

I had plenty of time to marvel at the stowage, since it was over our heads all the way back to my house. The more I looked at it, the more impressed I was. Who on earth could come up with that solution? It was totally out of our way and didn’t limit our movements at all. Brilliant!

Chrissie took my photo while we were traveling. Straps held the puzzle, with the help of the handles over each door. Only a person with a handyman brain would have cobbled together a sling with things already in the car.

When we got to my house, the puzzle was the last thing to be taken in. The natural place for it was the living room. Chris had it securely on the wall in minutes. I can see it from the laptop I use most of the time. John’s ashes are across the room. If he could see out of his box, he would be smiling and laughing. He would know there are matching sounds – the ringtone on my phone is a steam engine whistle, as is the chime for the doorbell. Yes, John would know that he lives on in our hearts.