Genius

I can’t say that it ruins my day, but it definitely frustrates me and affects my overall performance. It’s just a small failure, but not a good way to begin. I have a routine. First checking my emails, then messages, and then I open the New York Times. Methodically, I scroll down reading as little of the national news as possible, skimming the world news, opening a sports piece only if it pertains to one of my teams, save any recipe that sounds appealing—and easy, and finally get to the mid-point where the games section lies. I open Wordle and type F-I-E-R-Y, the word that usually leads me to the five-letter answer within the allotted six tries. Rarely do I fail at Wordle and for some reason, if I do, I am able to rationalize that the word is a bizarre choice and I’m not at fault. I quickly send my Wordle results to my competitive friend, Jan and then open the bright yellow icon for Spelling Bee. Immediately, I get a rush of excitement. Words flow freely and fast. Four letter words and an occasional six or seven letter surprise. When I am stumped, I return to the news and finish the sections—entertainment, health, and living. Back to Spelling Bee. Add another two or three words. Then, and only then do I go to Hints. Check the number of pangrams. Delight if I get one. And then the struggle begins in earnest. It is only when “You got Genius” appears that my day can begin with a huge dose of satisfaction. If no Genius, I am bothered all day. I return when time permits and sometimes, I reach the Genius level. But if not, my appetite, my productivity, and my sleep patterns that night are affected. Genius dreams are better!