Crossword Puzzles

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I quit doing crossword puzzles years ago when I began to know the answers to other clues as I was writing in other answers and when they, inadvertently, became a symbol of my aloneness. Some people are addicted
 to alcohol or chocolate. Of late, I have realised I am addicted to crosswords. I have denied the addiction for many years but lately I just can't help myself and the compulsion has returned. Furtively, I stash the KC Star sports section in my work apron. The New York Times' Crossword Puzzle is on the inside of the back page. No lesser daily newspaper puzzles for me and I do it in ink. Most addictions have rituals associated with them. Last night, I started this week's Wednesday puzzle and did not get very far. In the past, I would have given up and thrown it in the recycle bin. The NY Times' Crossword puzzle gets harder to solve daily. I can usually only complete the Monday and Tuesday puzzles so giving up on the Wednesday puzzle was nothing new to me. Whether it was a better-rested mind or the perspective of a new day or a combination of both, I cannot say. What I can say is that I almost finished it including fixing a few errors from the night before when I returned to solve it on Thursday. Perhaps, crossword puzzles are like life and vice versa. Sometimes, persistence pays off.  Then, there are times when wisdom says it is time to stop and move on. How do you know when to seek out the next answer or stop because the answer will never be forthcoming?

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