Connecting

One of the more memorable parts of my holidays while growing up was the annual jigsaw puzzle competition between my dad and his brother.

Though we lived in different states, every year our families connected through packages containing the hardest puzzles we could find.

Before noon Christmas Day, the card table was up and the race was on. A year�s worth of bragging rights hung on the outcome.

Some of the cruelest-seeming challenges we received, the solid red puzzle, or the one where all pieces had the same size and shape, were surprisingly easy. The plate of worms was tough to work on. The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel stands out as the all-time hardest.

Inviting friends over to help place pieces became a key part of the strategy. The long-distance calls taunting our relatives and bragging about our progress may have been the forerunner to today�s sports trash talking.

Puzzles aren�t exactly board games, but both bring family and friends together in ways I believe can serve as an antidote to today�s electronic isolation. In this issue, you can find out how some Kentucky families create their own communities with traditions that suit a winter evening.

Kwanzaa is a more recent holiday tradition that took me by surprise several years ago and piqued my curiosity. Among the advantages of working as an editor is you can satisfy curiosities by assigning a reporter. Read that feature to find out about Kentuckians who specialize in showing others a unique celebration of African and American culture.

Overloading electric outlets serves up a holiday tradition for many of us as we plug in seasonal lights and newly opened presents. The Future of Electricity column on page 14 describes the trend in the increasing number of electronic devices in our homes. The Gadgets & Gizmos column surveys power strips that can help tame some of that electricity use.

Traditions of giving are among the richest. This month�s cover story, �Giving Hearts,� finds people in different parts of the state who come together this time each year to help see that all parts of their communities are remembered.