Puzzling, what is it and who is it for? What should one do if they finish a puzzle except for one piece? They’ve spent 20 minutes searching and can’t find the missing piece. Should they give up? Will giving up make everything worse? Or is it a matter of perspective? You can’t stop going to work to look for the piece unless the puzzle is your life’s work. Tragically, the answer remains unknown.

It is not my job to answer these questions because I am an artist, not an investigator or researcher. After all, my art history professor from UW-Madison said, “Good art doesn’t answer questions, it asks questions.” And so I ask you, what do you do if you can’t find the missing piece? Before I get into the dramatic tale of the story behind my song, “Gotta Find This Piece of Mine” I must share my history of puzzling. After all, context is key.

Puzzling used to be a fun hobby for me. I found it nice to give my brain something to focus on rather than the many anxious thoughts or worries I had. Sometimes it was my leisure activity. I would have sleepovers to do puzzles with friends. A previous roommate of mine and I even made a Christmas card with a puzzle

Titled: What A Puzzling Year It Has Been! Happy New Year?

In my first professional job, I got many of my coworkers into puzzling through our communal puzzling board. At one point, I started a trend of housing puzzles in your cubicle, so you could puzzle between phone calls. Fortunately, it didn’t disrupt our metrics. If anything, it boosted morale.

“No I don’t feel like taking 40 to 60 calls today, but did you see how much we progressed on the puzzle? I think I’m going to work on it for a little bit before I return to the grind” -actual quote. Corporate was surprised to see an upward shift in their pace survey results that year.

Hard to feel annoyed at work after you finish a puzzle.

Unless…you don’t have another puzzle…

Then came the COVID pandemic in 2020. I had gotten into the routine of doing puzzles regularly while watching shows. I preferred busying my mind with thoughts about puzzle pieces rather than thoughts about worries. I welcomed the thought, Damn, these edge pieces are hard to find. As opposed to, I hope my dad doesn’t die from COVID.

A more affordable way to travel to Italy

Unfortunately, one day I thought I finished another masterpiece, but it was missing a piece. Immediately I was disturbed because I had been puzzling week after week. And, yet, it was still not complete. I was missing my piece.

I had to find this piece of mine. I had to. Giving up wasn’t an option because finishing masterpieces proved puzzling was a productive use of my time. It was clear I also lost my inner peace when I began throwing pillows and cushions and wreaking havoc.

I was bawling and sweating.

I felt so pathetic.

It was time to put the pieces away.

For good.

But when I picked up the box and took a step forward, I was shocked.

I gasped, “Oh my God, the missing piece - It’s under my…

foot.

It was under my foot.

IT WAS UNDER MY FOOT!

After finding that piece of mine, I was unable to have peace of mind. So I took that unrest and put it into a song. The first draft is in the music video below.

Between 2020 and 2024, I reworked the song and added another verse. Then for my show in February, the band helped me build up the song and make it more theatrical. Please note that the vocals at the end have much improved. You should have come to the Bublr Bash to witness the real masterpiece, but don’t fret. I will be playing at the new Sendik’s in Whitefish Bay on the first floor next Friday from 3-5pm. Wouldn’t you rather hear original music and covers from a woman with a smooth alto voice while you shop as opposed to the Top 100 with autotuned and/or raspy timbres?

Happy Puzzling!

Gotta Find This Piece of Mine

Bublr Bash 2026