New York Times Crossword

​          My mother was renowned for her wordplay acumen. New York Times Crossword puzzles were a favorite. I picture her standing up, leaning over the kitchen counter, or sitting on the floor of the sunroom in front of a space heater, pencil in hand, dachshund beside her. When she got stuck she’d open a 4-inch thick dictionary or a World Book encyclopedia or Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.
             Yesterday I was ready for bed after a busy weekend away. But I thought I’d just take a quick look at the Sunday Times, which the Bangor paper reprints a week later. I stood at the kitchen counter and finished in about half an hour. Well, I missed two letters. Crossword puzzles are my favorite place to get lost. For a short time, the world’s problems are reduced to finding the right letters to write into the little boxes.
            Now my children are puzzlers too, and they flatter me with their marveling at my wordplay acumen.
 
My 60th year in 60,000 words
Day 41: 164 words, TOTAL = 6198; 53,802 remaining