HOW TO DO A CROSSWORD A DAY

 My grandma had a basket beside her lazy-boy chair that contained books of crossword puzzles, and in her younger years, knitting. I was always aware that she could finish crossword puzzles en masse, but when I would attempt them, I couldn’t. That is, not until google, but it’s hardly a fun exercise if you have to look up the majority of the clues, and it would take me a month to do the Saturday puzzle.

Recently on holiday, my dad brought some crossword puzzles that he found online from the LA Times. I couldn't make more than a small dent, but my brother could always finish them. This is the same brother I have always relied on to remember what I couldn't remember. This is also the same brother who has made up crossword puzzle and submitted them to the NY Times! (One day they will see the light and publish them).

So I found myself going over answers when others were going for a walk, or when meals were not yet started or done. My nephew, my brother's nephew had as similar motivation, and taught me to see things differently. While I can never finish a NY Times crossword, the LA Times one seemed much less formal, and often employed simple phrases and jargon in place of an obscure word. When I understood this, it got a little easier.

So my brother found a Washington Post website where I can do the LA Times Crossword everyday. It's maybe cheating a little (I learned from my brother that you are not allowed to look up answers) because it gives me black letters if I have it right and red ones if I have it wrong. So on days when I don't work, I take an average of 30 minutes to do a puzzle with my coffee. I think that Sunday is the easiest, and it gets harder all week long, culminating to the Saturday paper. I have taken over an hour for those.

So at least I have a chance of finishing the LA Times crossword. I kinda love the tricks they use to make you think it's one thing when it is actually another. I like when I just know the answer and I can use the down to make the across clue. But mostly, I liked doing it with my dad and brother and nephew. So I do it with them in spirit, and with my grandma. It's a family affair, that gets a little easier every puzzle.