Cruciverbalist
I don't remember when it first began.
It must have been a time in my life when I was in dire need of a distraction
from the harsh realities of everyday life. Whenever it was, a habit was formed that
is almost impossible to kick. My early morning routine consists of a cup of
coffee, Bible reading, the local newspaper and the crossword puzzle.
A cruciverbalist is one who is skillful
in creating or solving crossword puzzles. Since I don't have a clue how to
create a puzzle and certainly not proficient as solving one, I refer to myself
as a frustrated crossword puzzle solver. The word cruciverbalist comes from two
Latin words: crux (cross) and verbum (word), a fancy name for a masochistic pastime.
I started my crossword obsession with
the rather simple daily puzzle in the newspaper. After lots of cheating
(looking at the answers printed on the next page), I got the hang of it. Most
days I was unable to complete the puzzle but every once in a while I did. What
a sense of accomplishment. Since then I have moved on to the LA puzzle and the
ones you find on the Internet. Basically the same results.
My excuse for working the daily puzzle
is that it stimulates my mind. Finding that four-letter word for “desert” that
starts with the letter “A” gets my brain working. I have read several articles that suggest
working the puzzle on a regular basis helps keep senility and even Alzheimer's
at bay. I hope that prognosis is not dependent upon correct answers.
I don't think the writer of the Old
Testament book of Proverbs had crossword puzzles in mind when he penned this
verse but it's hard to fault its application. “A man has joy in an apt answer,
and how delightful is a timely word.” My new mantra as I ponder the complexity
of the crossword puzzle!
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