In retirement, Lou Salas of Colorado decided to take on a 60,000‑piece puzzle — a 29‑foot map of the globe that arrived in five dozen boxes. He worked on it at his own pace from home, assembling pieces over more than four years. To reach the center, Salas and friends built a giant table in the garage with a platform that allowed him to hover over the middle pieces.
Tony Dokoupil spoke with Salas about finishing the final piece last weekend. After putting it in place, Salas said he felt a little sad because the puzzle had been “a part of me for a good time.” He and the team celebrated with a few beers, but Salas admitted part of him wished it wasn’t over.
Salas says the project deepened his appreciation for life. “Day by day, piece by piece, you build a life the same way you build a puzzle,” he told Dokoupil. Even with the world’s largest puzzle, he reminded viewers that you won’t be building it forever — so enjoy the process.