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June 12, 2006
New York Times Nebbish
Like many other women of a certain age, I forget things: words, keys, the fact that I have two children. One of the "cures" for this mind shrinkage is doing crossword puzzles. So, a few months ago, I began doing the puzzles in the Seattle Times. Most days, I could ink in those boxes in no time flat. I felt like the A-Rod of crossword puzzles.
That was until I went to see Word Play at the Seattle Film Festival. Sigh. Now I know I am a nebbish of the nth degree. The people featured in this witty and warm documentary complete the New York Times puzzle in minutes. Literally. And they are, for the most part, ordinary people. Smart, word-obsessed but ordinary. Okay, maybe some aren't so ordinary: Will Shortz (who created his own degree in Enigmatology at Indiana State University -- ya gotta love that ), Mike Mussina, pitcher for the New York Yankees, President Bill Clinton, and the Indigo Girls, both Amy Ray and Emily Saliers.
If anyone had ever told me that a film about crossword puzzles would be fabulous -- I confess to being more moved by it than by Altman's A Prairie Home Companion, which I'd seen the night before -- I would've thought they needed more soy in their diet. Let me assure you -- this is a feel good film every writer should see. Plus, it will inspire you to "increase your word power."
Now, let's see -- what's a 9-letter word for "stop sending us manuscripts"?
Posted by kirby at June 12, 2006 09:14 PM
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