Gloria, I know exactly what you mean. For years, I played endless rounds of Mah-Jongg—memory games and board games have always drawn me in. They offer the kind of rhythm that soothes a mind in turmoil. Now, I have gently replaced them with meditation. And when that doesn’t feel possible, I let myself fall into an audiobook. Oddly, reading an actual book still sends me off to sleep within two pages.
Here in Germany, we have the crosswords of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Die Zeit—they carry the same epic reputation as your NYT crossword and are equally difficult. I used to solve them, and also the one in Stern, often together with my late partner. In earlier days, we also played Scrabble with her kids—such good memories. And I remember playing it often with my parents during my childhood. I loved it. It was the one game I seldom lost. Monopoly or Mensch ärgere Dich nicht ("Don’t Get Angry")—those I rarely won.
And Gloria—may the catastrophic news of the past weeks now lie behind you. May life return to softer pathways and offer small moments of steadiness again. Sending you a quiet wish for ease.
Affirmation that you are different, but unique, and not to give up - what a legacy Mr. Ball left you. No matter what our government says about teachers and teaching, they are valuable. We each had at least one who saw something in us we may not have seen in ourselves. It changed our lives.
Grief makes me go far out on to the outside world of difficult & concentrated focus when driving a mower-tractor in unforgiving terrain & more hard manual labor related to all things Horticulture..
you have to focus, & keep your wits about you..moving and moving along..no mind wandering happens of what hurts inside..
...one day on and one day off ...driving myself to a well satisfied exhaustion...
Or delving into esoteric endless rare words found on Pinterest ,and sometimes reading tons of archaic information on Runes....and finally researching the world of Architecture from Maybeck & Willis polk. Found in San Francisco & California.....anything rather than falling into morass of tears... and as always one day at a time..until the high tide of grief recedes.
I'm a Monday and Tuesday NYTimes crossword solver,sometimes Wednesday. I do all the Times other puzzles before I get out of bed most days: Wordle, Connections, and Strands (with their often misleading or irrelevant "theme" hints.) My fave daily game is now Quartiles on Apple News: five by four box with word fragments, "bp" "ar" "sta", etc. which you need to put together in four syllable words for each of five lines. Also, if you see a word in one of the boxes, ("ion") "tech") click it, you get a point for each of these. Make as many smaller words as you can; the idea is to score more than 100 points, and you'll need help with the smaller word combos to get there. It's hard at first, gets easier. Any other Quartiles fans?
Yes! I’m a word addict. Love every NYT game, work (or try to) every one each day. When I come across a misspelled word or badly constructed sentence, I cringe and correct it in my mind or in the comments.
For me, it’s a form of order and predictability in a chaotic world. I find peace with the erudite and prose. Poetry, as you know, transcends it all. It’s the soul of verbal expression. So yes, I also find comfort in word games and feel something is missing if I miss doing them all.
I hope you find peace in these difficult days, in something that transcends the madness. ❤️🙏🏻
I love to play Wordle, Connections, Strands and the NYT mini crossword puzzles. Every morning while drinking my one cup of coffee, I challenge myself to complete all 4 of those word games. Most days I do pretty well. It’s a good way to wake up my brain.
Same here. I left off "mini-crosswords" on my list because they don't really require much brain. Just tactile rewards from the iPad that owns my fingers.
Like you, I love words! I download and play lots of word games. In school my favorite teacher and favorite class was English, which in my day always meant words and spelling, and of course lots of reading! And this was just my elementary teacher. To me words are precious and beautiful.
Here's the thing.....Trump is dyslexic - but he is lazy and never did the work to deal with this situation. Your writing is the best I have read - poetic and profound at the same time - so obviously you HAVE done the work. Trump has always depended on others to shield him from the consequences of his ignorance (resulting from his not reading because it's too hard for him). You do not have to depend on anyone to communicate, but the word "communication" does not begin to describe the beauty I see in your thoughts set down here. You go, woman of words - you go.....
Peace to you as you work through your grief. I have found this a balm.
Meditations Before Kaddish
WHEN I DIE give what's left of me away to children and old men that wait to die.
And if you need to cry, cry for your brother walking the street beside you.
And when you need me, put your arms around anyone and give them what you need to give me.
I want to leave you something, something better than words or sounds.
Look for me in the people I've known or loved, and if you cannot give me away,
at least let me live in your eyes and not in your mind.
You can love me best by letting hands touch hands, and by letting go of children that need to be free.
Love doesn't die, people do.
So, when all that's left of me is love, give me away.
What a marvelous mantra. I printing this to save.
This actually made me cry because it touched a deep part of my soul. Thank you so much for sharing.
Beautifully said.... Thank you for sharing. 🧡
Gloria, I know exactly what you mean. For years, I played endless rounds of Mah-Jongg—memory games and board games have always drawn me in. They offer the kind of rhythm that soothes a mind in turmoil. Now, I have gently replaced them with meditation. And when that doesn’t feel possible, I let myself fall into an audiobook. Oddly, reading an actual book still sends me off to sleep within two pages.
Here in Germany, we have the crosswords of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Die Zeit—they carry the same epic reputation as your NYT crossword and are equally difficult. I used to solve them, and also the one in Stern, often together with my late partner. In earlier days, we also played Scrabble with her kids—such good memories. And I remember playing it often with my parents during my childhood. I loved it. It was the one game I seldom lost. Monopoly or Mensch ärgere Dich nicht ("Don’t Get Angry")—those I rarely won.
And Gloria—may the catastrophic news of the past weeks now lie behind you. May life return to softer pathways and offer small moments of steadiness again. Sending you a quiet wish for ease.
"Sending you a quiet wish for ease."
Love that💙
🙏😻🩵
Affirmation that you are different, but unique, and not to give up - what a legacy Mr. Ball left you. No matter what our government says about teachers and teaching, they are valuable. We each had at least one who saw something in us we may not have seen in ourselves. It changed our lives.
Mr. Ball was and is a lifesaver for me.
Grief makes me go far out on to the outside world of difficult & concentrated focus when driving a mower-tractor in unforgiving terrain & more hard manual labor related to all things Horticulture..
you have to focus, & keep your wits about you..moving and moving along..no mind wandering happens of what hurts inside..
...one day on and one day off ...driving myself to a well satisfied exhaustion...
Or delving into esoteric endless rare words found on Pinterest ,and sometimes reading tons of archaic information on Runes....and finally researching the world of Architecture from Maybeck & Willis polk. Found in San Francisco & California.....anything rather than falling into morass of tears... and as always one day at a time..until the high tide of grief recedes.
Such beautiful words and may I say you are brilliant with them Wishing you all the gentle healing for you to get through these times
Gloria, you have the right and the reason to crow.
If you can imagime music notes in your mind. I could send you do re mi notes:
Twinkle twinkle little star would start
Do do so so fa fa so
Fa fa mi mi re re do.
All the best to the sweet crower of words.
Sorry incorret notation
This: Twinkle
Do do so so la la so
Fa fa mi mi re re do
Thanks for the restack, Sea ❤️
I'm a Monday and Tuesday NYTimes crossword solver,sometimes Wednesday. I do all the Times other puzzles before I get out of bed most days: Wordle, Connections, and Strands (with their often misleading or irrelevant "theme" hints.) My fave daily game is now Quartiles on Apple News: five by four box with word fragments, "bp" "ar" "sta", etc. which you need to put together in four syllable words for each of five lines. Also, if you see a word in one of the boxes, ("ion") "tech") click it, you get a point for each of these. Make as many smaller words as you can; the idea is to score more than 100 points, and you'll need help with the smaller word combos to get there. It's hard at first, gets easier. Any other Quartiles fans?
You have the very best words Gloria. Enjoy the serenity they will bring you.
Yes! I’m a word addict. Love every NYT game, work (or try to) every one each day. When I come across a misspelled word or badly constructed sentence, I cringe and correct it in my mind or in the comments.
For me, it’s a form of order and predictability in a chaotic world. I find peace with the erudite and prose. Poetry, as you know, transcends it all. It’s the soul of verbal expression. So yes, I also find comfort in word games and feel something is missing if I miss doing them all.
I hope you find peace in these difficult days, in something that transcends the madness. ❤️🙏🏻
Checkmate!
I love to play Wordle, Connections, Strands and the NYT mini crossword puzzles. Every morning while drinking my one cup of coffee, I challenge myself to complete all 4 of those word games. Most days I do pretty well. It’s a good way to wake up my brain.
Wholeheartedly agree. I do the same thing! Now, I’ll be imaging all of us playing simultaneously. *Sighs* How lovely!
I challenge my 20 yr old soon to be college grad granddaughter to try and beat me… she’s pretty good, but this Nana is usually a bit better. 😁
Same here. I left off "mini-crosswords" on my list because they don't really require much brain. Just tactile rewards from the iPad that owns my fingers.
Same! Wayne. Although I play all of them including the news of the week game as well.
And the one I like the best: Spelling Bee. I have to get to Genius level every day!
I love words too but really suck at crossword puzzles. Nevertheless I still try to work at them. 🩵
Like you, I love words! I download and play lots of word games. In school my favorite teacher and favorite class was English, which in my day always meant words and spelling, and of course lots of reading! And this was just my elementary teacher. To me words are precious and beautiful.
Here's the thing.....Trump is dyslexic - but he is lazy and never did the work to deal with this situation. Your writing is the best I have read - poetic and profound at the same time - so obviously you HAVE done the work. Trump has always depended on others to shield him from the consequences of his ignorance (resulting from his not reading because it's too hard for him). You do not have to depend on anyone to communicate, but the word "communication" does not begin to describe the beauty I see in your thoughts set down here. You go, woman of words - you go.....
Gloria, I love your third grade teacher.
I could spell and still meet challenge with pronunciation.
Thank you
I’m eager to play scrabble again.