The art of simplicity is a puzzle of complexity.

-- Doug Horton

The fun thing about requesting vacation news from readers is that some also send me travel souvenirs. Such is the case of Charlotte Cash, of Evans.

She shared a vacation message on the back of a small jigsaw puzzle, then mailed me all the pieces.

I had to put them together to read the message, which was a challenge because it was color photo of a lion sitting on sandy ground with tan colored vegetation around him.

And when I finished, I found I could not flip over the puzzle to read the message on the back without the pieces falling apart.

So then I had to put it together that way -- gray side up.

Her message? ("Need a little challenge?")

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MORE MAIL: Catherine Callahan sends a card from a windy city, and writes: "Chicago is big, but it's easy to navigate. Beautiful weather. Flowers and greenery everywhere."

Dwight Watt , of Swainsboro, Ga., is in Kentucky at the International BB Gun Championship Match as an event official.

Jinx and Hoyt Duke , of Evans, send a beautiful card from Malibu, Calif., where they are visiting daughter Marnie Duke Mitze , who works at Pepperdine University.

Rosie Brown , of Thomson, sends two cards from Cleveland, Ohio, where she says: "The trees and yards are so pretty."

Terrell and Debbie Kearse , from North Augusta, are in Lancaster, Pa., in Amish country where "corn is 10-feet tall."

Julia and George Petrides send a post card from Rhode Island and Brown University, where daughter Sarah recently received her PhD. Joel , of Grovetown, sends another card from Wisconsin.

David Daitch sends a card from the Paradise Islands, where he says he's recovering from his previous vacation.

Faye and Julian Connell and Linda and Ashton Branch spent "a beautiful week in Riviera Maya, Mexico ... We recommend snorkeling at the Mayan Reef."

How about you? If you're traveling this summer, why not drop me a post card, 725 Broad St., Augusta, GA 30901.

If we get one from Utah, we will have one from every state.

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FOND FAREWELLS: Today marks the first day in more than two decades that Dennis Sodomka has not been listed as executive editor of this newspaper. Thursday was his last day.

I know readers will miss his gracious good humor when they called to discuss their newspaper.

I know reporters will miss the open door to his office, where you could talk about everything from newsroom trends to New Testament theology. (Dennis loves the Gospel of John.)

And I know all who have enjoyed the hospitality he and his wife, Pat , have shared over the years would want them to know it was appreciated.

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TODAY'S JOKE: Here's one shared by Everett Fernandez .

A frog curious about his future telephones a psychic hot line and is told, "You are going to meet a beautiful, young girl who will want to know everything about you."

"That's great," said the frog. "Will I meet her at a party?"

"No," said the psychic, "next year in biology class."