going through my piles of stuff

i found this page

from exactly 13 years ago

when I solved my first

nyt sunday crossword puzzle

all on my own

all spaces filled

I was so happy

this was a personal goal

I had worked on many puzzles

 and finally began to learn

the styles of the editors/writers

what spaces, clues, word play, patterns, punctuation, puns, word roots,

capital letters, italics, other languages, irony, humor, sarcasm all meant

I like to work in ink

not crossing out clues

not in any order

do as much as I can

walk away once or twice

then it somehow all falls into place

sometimes I master it

sometimes it masters me

now every sunday

I eagerly grab my newspaper from outside the door

and the challenge begins once again.

I attribute it all to sheer will and bit of magic.

—

‘our whole life is solving puzzles.’

-erno rubik