As promised, above is an image of the completed puzzle from the post of a few days ago. I apologize for the poor quality of the image, but puzzles are highly reflective of light and it is difficult to get the picture without a bright glare.
The puzzle was a Christmas gift from our grandchildren. It was challenging in all of the normal ways, plus the fact that I couldn't use my usual method of assembling the border first and then filling in the interior. Because of the unique shape, the border pieces often looked like interior pieces and vice versa. It also had a peculiar cut to the pieces so that the corners often didn't match and what looked to be space for one piece ended up holding two or, more.
The theme of the puzzle was perfect; "Images of Texas." There were a couple of items that seemed a bit out-of-place, however, such as putting the pelicans in the deserts of West Texas near El Paso and including a few saguaro cacti with the free-roaming horses in what might be the Guadalupe Mountains which should be where the pelicans are, sans saguaro, of course, since that particular cactus is native to regions further west. It is found in the Sonoran Desert, not the Chihuahuan Desert, which covers parts of western Texas.
I realize there is limited space in such a puzzle, but other iconic images of Texas might have been included such as The Lighthouse formation in Palo Duro Canyon, or something representing technology such as NASA or, the computer industry of Austin. They left out the oil and gas sector, miles of giant wind turbines, cattle feeding, farming, and most importantly, the diversity of people that grace our great state.
I am quite certain the puzzle was designed by a non-Texan and built in another country. I didn't check the box to see. The images chosen for it, though, are revealing in their nature; they show what people who didn't grow up here think of when Texas comes to mind. Western films, many of which were made in Arizona or, northwestern Mexico, are the reason for the inclusion of saguaro. The modern mindset that the energy business is "bad" and wild horses are "good" also comes through in the chosen images. Inclusion of the Alamo is interesting because it represents so many things. Its iconic facade moves a Texan's heart into his throat and fills him with a patriotic fervor that inflames the will to fight against the odds, even with knowledge that ones own efforts are merely to buy time for and to inspire those who will continue the battle.
It is also interesting to me that the images on the puzzle include a number which appear to be at sunset, or twilight. I wonder if such were subliminally implanted in the creators mind due to the idea that such a place -- Texas -- was fading; that it was, or is, in the twilight years of existence; I would choose the bursting light of sunrise instead. There is something which subtly differentiates the two times of day which comes across even in photographs, or paintings, if composed correctly. I choose the optimism of sunrise rather than the pessimism of sunset.
Even today, in many ways Texas stands alone -- apart -- a lone star resisting the tide of socialism that is sweeping the coasts of our country. It isn't the resistance represented by the Alamo, but one more nearly represented by the central figure riding out of the flag with the blue of loyalty, white of purity, red of bravery and a single star which represents unity of all for God, state and country.
Yeah, I'm Texan through and through and proud of it. The pride isn't one of being better than others, it is the pride of being tied to values which transcend the passing fads and vagaries of political winds with adherence to a code of independence reflective of those who fought and died for freedom rather than subservience to a government -- no matter the form of tyranny or, bureaucracy. I pray that Texas will remain true to those values and that throughout the world (no matter where puzzles are made) we will continue to represent those things which inspire.
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