The Sudoku puzzle of life

Life is a Sudoku puzzle I think. Some days, it is just challenging enough to be interesting; everything just seems to fall into place. Other days, you’re gliding along thinking everything is going well and then Boom! you realize you were wrong and must go back and try again.

Then there are the times you just have no clue how to solve the puzzle. No matter how you work it, it doesn’t come out right. Often, the Friday and/or Saturday puzzles in the Albuquerque Journal are that way for me. It doesn’t seem to make sense. It just doesn’t compute.

When I was young, I loved math. In fact, I really enjoyed Algebra I and learning the equations – at least until there were too many x, y, and z’s. Back in those days, if you were to go further, you were expected to learn how to use a slide rule. Do they still use those? I never did get the hang of it, and as I recall anything above beginning Algebra was beyond me.

None of that fun with equations and algebra helped me one iota to balance my checkbook. That is simple math, right? When I was working as accounts receivable, I had no problem making sure every penny was present and accounted. But my own bank account? Never could. It just didn’t compute. Thank goodness, I don’t worry about it now: computers are way more efficient and they let me know right away when my balance is $0. (Warning, kids: Don’t try this at home. I mean, I still check my accounts carefully to make sure no one is scamming me, at least.)

And as for other school subjects: Geometry never did make sense to me and logic? That doesn’t compute. I mean, really? One can use logic to “prove” something illogical?

Back in those school days – you know, back in the dark ages – 100 percent was all you could get. Nowadays, kids come home with over 100 percent. How does that work? How do you get more than all? To me, it doesn’t compute.

Yes, life is a Sudoku puzzle. For instance, if you don’t learn a lesson the first time around, life – like school – throws it back at you and makes you stand up, square your shoulders and take notice till you do learn.

But it’s the really hard Sudoku-life puzzles that have me flummoxed. The ones I just can’t figure out. As a child, I was convinced I would figure it all out as an adult. And, of course, as an adult I would get to do want I wanted to do. LOL as they say these days.

A few years ago, I didn’t need to solve all the puzzles. I just figured I would “let the mystery be” as the song goes. But some mysteries need to be solved. Some puzzles bug you – a tiny, unseen splinter in your finger.

One of my current mysteries probably never will be solved. It is however a topic of conversation for me and my peers.

It seems as if I went to bed one evening and woke up the next morning to discover: “I’m old!”

It doesn’t make sense. I remember listening to my grandmother talk to her friends. Perhaps you remember this as well. They most likely were chatting about doctor appointments, ointments and various complaints. How boring (yawn.)

A friend said she thought, “I know how to take care of that problem. Just don’t go to the doctors!”

I mean, sure, aging was/is a gradual process. One lives their life, busy growing up, getting a job, marrying, probably raising children, doing whatever else. Even retirement is happily celebrated. And then: Poof! Some gremlin comes and stares you in the face and says: “Hey you, you’re an antique.”

It seems like it happened overnight. It doesn’t compute.