Retirement comes with a mixed blessing . . . Time. All of a sudden, you gain a lot more control over your time and how you use it. Of course, there are legions of pundits at the ready to tell you just how you should use it, but I often wonder how many of these people have tried it themselves. This is especially true when it come to exercise, both physical and mental. We all know that we should do both, but which form is best?
One mental exercise that I have tried is the crossword puzzle in the New York Times. When I was still working, I sometimes tried it during the commute home when I didn’t have any task that was left over from work. Now, without the commute, I can do it any day I want.
My encounter with the NY Times Crossword began as a mild diversion that was completely mysterious at first. I didn’t even realize that there was a theme to the three or four long answers in each puzzle. Like most things, however, you soon develop a sense of its rhythm and discover that its level of difficulty increases throughout the week.
On Monday and Tuesday, both the clues and their answers are reasonably straightforward. The answers typically consist of one word. The clues usually have only one or two meanings. Sometimes, Monday can seem tougher than Tuesday, but usually it is the other way around. If you are new to crosswords, don’t try anything other than Monday or Tuesday, or you will quickly become discouraged.
On Wednesday, the clues start to become both more subtle and more diverse. For example, a question mark at the end of a clue indicates a fairly bizarre connection, e.g. the answer for the clue, ‘Homeland plot?’, could be ‘acre’. Also, the answers start to require multiple words, e.g. the answer for ‘Just for laughs’ could be ‘in fun’. Nonetheless, you are still working with one letter per box.
That can change on Thursday. On that day, a variety of tricks may start to appear. A box may require a symbol, or multiple letters, or an entire word. You begin to recognize this is happening when nothing seems to fit. Of course, that meaning has to work both directions, across and down. It is that double requirement that helps you uncover the secret. At this point, you recognize that the trickster that created this puzzle is really trying to fool you.
On Friday, you encounter the classic tough puzzle. All of the clues either have multiple meanings or are extremely obscure. Many of the answers require phrases rather than words. Whenever you finish a Friday puzzle, you start to feel that you are really are learning how to wrestle with this trickster, especially if you do it in ink.
Saturday’s puzzles are like Friday’s, but the answers are longer. Sunday’s puzzles are twice the size of the daily ones, but include elements of each day of the week.
Solving crosswords can not only be a diversion, it can also be a social, cooperative effort. My wife and I often share one, challenging each other with those difficult clues. It is not rocket science, but it is definitely an exercise for your brain cells. At our age, that can’t hurt!
You can find the crossword in any issue of the Times. I access it by just buying the paper. But you can also try a free puzzle online. You can also sign up for an annual online subscription if you get hooked.
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