Quod Me Nutrit Me Destruit

I get bored easily; additionally, I like challenges. It's both a blessing and a curse, believe me.

Recently, I came across a book of crossword puzzles. Easy enough, I thought. I find them stimulating, but neither too easy nor too difficult. But this particular book didn't look to appealing at first glance and I almost skipped it.

Upon closer inspection, I saw that this answers to the puzzles in this book must be answered mostly in Latin. Not, igpay atinlay.

My first thought? - That's way too difficult for me to even try.

My second thought? - Just for that, I'm not gonna back down.

That's typically how I approach challenges. If, at first glance, a particular task looks too difficult, I'll do it anyway. Especially when it comes to foreign languages.

My last year of college, I needed eight more hours to graduate. My advisor told me that I could take two easy electives, like Spanish. I asked if I could just test out of a year's worth. When she asked if I knew any Spanish, I replied I knew Portuguese pretty good. She told me not to get too confident, that many people take the test and don't even test out of the first semester. Plus, the test was in a couple of days and I wouldn't have much time to study. Like I was gonna do that anyway. So, I took the test and got my eight hours and then some.

Ever since Saturday evening, I have not been able to put this crossword puzzle book down. I've actually surprised myself and have done fairly well on most of the puzzles I've attempted.

To be honest, I've not overly impressed myself. But that's often the case. There's quite a bit that I've forgotten. But I do think I would've made my professor from ten years ago proud. She instilled the notion that the love of Latin can last a lifetime. And so far, it has.

Which, by the way, is the perfect method of communication for somebody like me.

In modern times, it's rarely spoken.