Life is like Sudoku
Without Internet or television my first two weeks I found myself thoroughly reading the Tucson Weekly or at least thoroughly perusing the "weekly happenings" section. The last page, like many top quality newspapers, included both a crossword and Sudoku puzzle. I decided to start with Sudoku. Unlike the Sudoku for Dummies puzzles that can be found in the master bathroom of my home in Silver Spring, this one was by Will Shortz (NY Times Crossword Puzzle dude) and was given 4 out of 5 stars indicating a significant level of difficulty. While not Mensa status, I ain't no dummie. So, I sat down and got busy. Scanning the puzzle rather quickly, I assumed at least one number would be a gimmie. I scanned again. And again. And again. Then, I scanned more slowly. And again. And again. Are you freaking kidding me...not one gimmie??? So I stared really hard; went north to south, east to west, 1-9 and from 9-1. Nothing! Not one damn number. Four out of five stars for difficulty??? How about five out of five or more like six out out of 5 for goodness sake! I'm done. I got up, left my pen where it was and did the dishes. "Impossible" I thought.
After finishing the dishes, I glanced back down at the puzzle for kicks and giggles and I swear to you, this is exactly what happened. The square for the missing number three just jumped out of the page and smacked me across the face! So, I wrote it down. And then, the square for the missing number one did the same thing. So, I wrote it down. I'll be damned, I thought. How did I miss that? I stayed with it a few more minutes and one or two more numbers had their way with me as well. Then, I walked away. The next morning over coffee I picked back up my pen. More numbers came to me. I was feeling good, real good. Bring it Mr. Shortz. I obviously ain't no dummie. With 3/4 of the puzzle complete, I am again at a stalemate and walk away. But this time I am smiling and nodding my head.
Later that night I finish the puzzle. I'll be damned. Just 24 hours earlier, I could not even see one number. I am pleased. I am giddy, in fact. It is at that moment that it comes to me. Life is like Sudoku. Sometimes you just have to step away from that which seems puzzling, and like magic, the answers will come.
After finishing the dishes, I glanced back down at the puzzle for kicks and giggles and I swear to you, this is exactly what happened. The square for the missing number three just jumped out of the page and smacked me across the face! So, I wrote it down. And then, the square for the missing number one did the same thing. So, I wrote it down. I'll be damned, I thought. How did I miss that? I stayed with it a few more minutes and one or two more numbers had their way with me as well. Then, I walked away. The next morning over coffee I picked back up my pen. More numbers came to me. I was feeling good, real good. Bring it Mr. Shortz. I obviously ain't no dummie. With 3/4 of the puzzle complete, I am again at a stalemate and walk away. But this time I am smiling and nodding my head.
Later that night I finish the puzzle. I'll be damned. Just 24 hours earlier, I could not even see one number. I am pleased. I am giddy, in fact. It is at that moment that it comes to me. Life is like Sudoku. Sometimes you just have to step away from that which seems puzzling, and like magic, the answers will come.
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