Don't Quote Me on That!

Don't Quote Me on That!

One of the highlights of my day is cracking the cryptoquote in my beloved Daily Gleaner. Do not say "What a boring life she must have!" before you try it. Have you ever watched The Bletchley Circle? I pretend I’m one of those highly-skilled, mathematical women. There must be some advantage to stretching my imagination that far!

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The cryptoquote is a word puzzle written in code where one letter represents another. In The Gleaner, there are no hints, so you look for apostrophes, single letter words etc. to get you started. In Saint John’s Telegraph Journal, you are given one letter to get you started. And there are TWO cryptoquotes in that paper everyday!

The Cryptoquote, Untouched

In our Gleaner, the cryptoquote is usually a thought-provoking quote from a famous person. So the benefits of completing the cryptoquote are at least twofold. First you get the satisfaction of breaking the code. And then you get the longer-lasting pleasure of thinking about that quote all day long. Exercise for the brain; fodder for reflection.

Cryptoquote, Solved

In recent months, my room-mate has taken to doing the cryptoquote. Because we only get ONE copy of the Gleaner each morning, and it was originally MY past-time, he does the crypto in his head before I get to it. Show-off.

Crypto-Show-Off

I have been doing the cryptoquote for many years. When I was a working woman, it was my after-supper-on-the-couch-with-a-cup-of-tea activity. If I was really fried that night, and could not get it, I could call my Aunt Margaret for assistance. She was just across the river, and I knew that she would have cracked the code earlier in the day. She did the cryptoquote well into her nineties.

Aunt Margaret: Crypto-Queen

If I’m at the camp and working on the The Telegraph Journal crypto, I can call Aunt Gladys as my lifeline. At the age of 94, she continues to conquer the crypto with the aid of a magnifying glass to facilitate her failing eyesight. I have pretty smart aunts.

Aunt Gladys (age 94) 

with Great Granddaughter Grace (age 6)

My good friend, Janet, is my Fredericton lifeline now. If my room-mate and I can’t get it, and I simply can’t wait until the next day when the answer is in the paper, I text Janet. She ALWAYS has the answer!

Janet the Crypto-Whiz

When I was a teacher, I used quotations in an effort to foster introspection, reflection, and contemplation in my students. I would have them search out quotes that were meaningful to them in some way—represent their beliefs, provoke thought or feeling, provide inspiration etc. Or I might write one on the board, or hang it on a piece of paper in my classroom—exposure in a non-invasive way. My theory was they would read it and could not help but think about it. Quotations pack a punch in very few words.

Heidegger

I do have my Personal Favourites quotes, many of which have become more meaningful to me as the years slide by. 

My father was fond of:            

  What do they use for brains!

My mother often said this in her later years:

Mother-Quote 

My grand-nephew, Jayden, coined this one at the age of four!

                  You’ve got to have balance!

Further Fodder for Reflection:

Helen Keller

Go for the cryptoquote adventure. As my Little Brother Noel would say, “It’s so satisfyin’.”

...Until Next Time...