Imagine winning $50 on a scratch ticket - and then losing the ticket before you can cash it in. Imagine climbing a 4,000-foot mountain and having to turn back 20 steps before the summit. Imagine if Michelangelo painted 99.3 percent of the Sistene Chapel ceiling before running out of paint.
I enjoy doing 1,000-piece puzzles, especially during the winter. I recently borrowed a Candy Wrapper-themed puzzle and, invariably, I start getting competitive. I begin looking at the clock. Suddenly, a leisurely activity turns into a race. I wonder if I can finish the puzzle in under six hours. Piece after piece after piece fit like a glove. I'm almost finished. Yes, I reach my goal ... and realize I'm missing one piece.
One lousy piece. One blankety-blank piece.
I drop to my knees, scanning the floor for the lost treasure. I check nearby chairs. I check everywhere. Nothing. 999 pieces - and zero satisfaction. I don't feel any joy from my achievement. The missing pierce is from the Good and Plenty section, which is perfect because now I'm plenty angry.
I stumble away from the table feeling, well, puzzled.
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