The missing piece is in the last place you look

It’s never easy to find. And, of course, one should never say never. However, some rules are absolute. For example, gravity. What goes up, must come down. That little saying is all about gravity. In fact, that little saying, goes a long way toward describing the nature of gravity. It’s an unseen force. Completely invisible, yet we know it’s there. Many of us figured it out the very first moment we tried to fly like superman. Furthermore, depending on the confidence of the disillusioned flyer, it was a resounding lesson.

What we didn’t know about was the missing piece. Furthermore, the missing piece was not in the fall. It was in the sudden stop at ground level. Similarly, the ground was the last place to be looking. After all, the launch was skyward. Therefore, looking up, felt natural. This example is one of many that are not related to a physical object. This is because not every missing piece is something tangible. In fact, it can be almost anything that completes a closed system.

With this in mind, an example of a closed system (in this context) is the attempt at spontaneous flight. Just like a superhero. Other examples include ESP, telekinesis, levitation and so forth. These are closed systems that work, provided the missing piece is available. And what is the missing piece? In these examples, it’s something unknown. A superpower, or maybe a super condition. No matter which it may be, there is usually something missing. One thing, that makes the whole thing, work.

The Missing Piece

Things are different, with things. For example, a jigsaw puzzle. This is an example that clearly illustrates the unknown nature of the missing piece. In fact, it won’t be evident that there’s a missing piece until the very end. Furthermore, depending on the actual size of the puzzle that could be days. Then, when there’s only a couple of pieces left, it becomes clear that there is one spot open. And it’s where the missing piece fits.

However, that isn’t the end of it. In fact, it’s only getting started. Where is the missing piece? Is it close by? I think we all know the answer to that. Actually, it’s in the next room. And it’s under the couch, near the back, and close to the wall. The missing piece is there, laying under the edge of the throw rug. It won’t be found until the day the couch is taken away in the move. Then, when the throw rug is rolled up, the last piece of the puzzle reveals itself.

If that sounds real, it’s because it has actually happened before. Furthermore, there are likely similar stories about other things that went missing, and then turned up again in some strange location. Just like the missing puzzle piece, it’s not clear why. If this were uncommon, it might seem strange, but this is not uncommon. In fact, there are more than a few stories of people that went missing, only to turn up somewhere else completely unexpected.

The Last Place You Look

They turn up somewhere else, completely unexpected. That’s why it’s the last place anyone would look. Similar to the missing puzzle piece there’s no way of knowing how it got where it is, only that it’s there. Furthermore, starting a large puzzle with over a thousand pieces fosters a feeling of trepidation over that final missing piece. There may only be a few connected pieces in the beginning of the puzzle, but the feeling of anxiety over the final piece is palpable.

Will the last piece be there? It takes over 999 connected pieces to be sure. Yet that feeling of anxiety won’t fade. It’s there when the puzzle box comes open. It’s there during the construction of the puzzle, and then at the very end, it’s about the missing piece. No it wasn’t there. It wasn’t there, and every precaution didn’t make a difference. It’s almost like the last piece didn’t make it into the box to begin with.

That couldn’t happen. Could it? It might be an interesting way to save money for an unscrupulous puzzle company. Cut costs by shorting every puzzle by one piece. Who’s going to know? The only way to know, is to count the pieces before purchasing the puzzle. While effective, it isn’t very practical. So, who’s to say where that last piece will end up? It’s a good bet it won’t be in the puzzle box. Check under the throw rug. In the house next door, under the easy chair, near the wall. Thanks for reading.

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