I have the oddest pattern in my life. I go to bed, and a couple of hours later I’m wide awake. So, I get out of bed and do the crossword puzzle. It helps to pass the time until I am tired enough to go back to sleep. Well, maybe not the Monday puzzle, which is pretty easy, but certainly the other days of the week.

I’d really rather be doing the puzzle over breakfast, with Dear Husband there to share it. Sunday morning I couldn’t remember the name of Hagar’s dog, and DH came up with it: Snert. I suppose I would have gotten it eventually, but it amazes me what he is able to remember or sound out.

I’ll tell DH the number of spaces and what letters (if any) I might have. Without seeing the grid he can come up with possibilities. He’s quite good at it. Unfortunately, he’s a creative speller, so he won’t bother to do the puzzles on his own, but he seems to be content to start the day helping me.

My mother used to do crossword puzzles in ink. I’m not willing to work on puzzles unless I can do it electronically. I use the option that tells me when I put in a wrong letter. I suppose I could do it my mother’s way, but it would take me all day.

When I was first doing puzzles as an adult my favorites were those by Eugene T. Maleska. He was the editor for the New York Times puzzles. He and I thought about language the same way, and I was more likely to finish one of his puzzles. Now, the editors are not requiring information in the clues such as “two words.” I don’t think the clues are as clever as they used to be, so when I come across a good one, I share it with DH.

I’ll have to put Maleska’s puzzles on my wish list and see whether any of the kids can find them for me. Perhaps I will be doing puzzles like my mother after all.