Puzzle...

In a drafty old house there is a table. On that table there sits a completed jigsaw puzzle. One day an invisible hand brushes by the table and the jigsaw puzzle slowly starts to slide off. As it falls, the pieces begin to separate and land quietly on the floor. Some of the pieces are still connected, some are not. Some are lying face up and some face down. It is possible that one or more of the puzzle pieces may have fallen down a vent and will not be recovered. The house is empty and silent.

So, how does one deal with this? Should we sweep up the pieces and put them in a box? Or do we attempt to restore order? Should we put the puzzle back together? It might be quicker and easier to simply put the puzzle back together on the floor to at least have some semblance of completeness. However I would question this “quick fix”, and suggest picking up the pieces of the puzzle and placing them on the table before starting to put the whole thing back together. If we put the puzzle together on the floor, we would have a much more difficult time lifting it intact and back onto the table. There is a chance that, as it is being lifted, the pieces may fall apart again. Further, if the puzzle is completed on the floor, there is a possibility that it may remain there indefinitely, and never be placed back on its original foundation.

So... what is the solution?

a) sweep up the pieces and put them in a box?

b) put the puzzle together on the floor?
c) spend a little extra time and effort to pick up the pieces and put the puzzle back together on the table?