Alright, let’s talk about this “in need of some cheering up” thing, the kind they put in them little New York Times mini crosswords. You know, the ones you finish before your coffee gets cold? Yeah, those.
Now, I ain’t no fancy city slicker, but even I know what it means to be “in need of some cheering up.” It means you’re feelin’ down in the dumps, like a wet dishrag on a Monday mornin’. Maybe your crops failed, maybe the chickens ain’t layin’, maybe your favorite cow, Bessie, give you the stink eye. Life throws you curveballs, that’s for sure.
So, when you see that clue in the puzzle, what kinda words they lookin’ for? Well, it ain’t gonna be “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” that’s for darn sure. They want somethin’ short and sweet, somethin’ that fits in them little boxes. Somethin’ like “SAD” or “BLUE” or maybe even “LOW.” See? Simple stuff.
- SAD – That’s a good one. Everybody knows what sad means. Like when your prize-winning pumpkin gets squashed by a runaway tractor.
- BLUE – Not the color blue, mind you, unless you’re talkin’ about feelin’ blue. Like when the sky’s gray and the rain just keeps on comin’.
- LOW – Means your spirits are down, not your britches. Like when you realize you forgot to put sugar in your apple pie.
Now, the puzzle folks, they like to be tricky sometimes. They might use words like “DOWNHEARTED” or “GLUM.” But them words is too long for a mini crossword, most times. They gotta keep it short, you see? They ain’t got room for the whole dictionary in them little squares.
I remember one time, my neighbor’s dog, Buster, he ran off. She was real “in need of some cheering up” then. Wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t sleep, just kept callin’ for Buster. Took three days, but he finally came home, tail waggin’ like crazy. That cheered her up right quick, I tell ya. Went from “GLUM” to “HAPPY” faster than a jackrabbit in a hailstorm.
And that’s the thing, ain’t it? Feelin’ down is just part of life. Like weeds in the garden or flies in the buttermilk. But it don’t last forever. Sun always comes out after the rain, even if it takes a while. And findin’ that right word in the crossword, that can be a little ray of sunshine, too. Makes you feel like you accomplished somethin’, even if it’s just fillin’ in a few little boxes.
So, next time you see “in need of some cheering up” in that puzzle, don’t you fret. Just think about what makes folks feel sad, and then find the shortest word that fits. It ain’t rocket science, it’s just a crossword. And if you still can’t figure it out, well, just ask your neighbor. Or your grandkid. Or heck, just guess! It ain’t the end of the world if you get one wrong. There’s always another puzzle tomorrow.
Them city folks with their fancy puzzles, they think they’re so smart. But we country folk, we know a thing or two about life and feelin’s. And sometimes, the simplest words say it best. Like “SAD.” Or “BLUE.” Or maybe even just a good ol’ fashioned “UGH.” That about sums it up, don’t it?
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I gotta go check on them chickens. And hope they ain’t “in need of some cheering up” themselves. Them birds can be right sensitive, you know.
So, remember, whether it’s a crossword puzzle clue or just life in general, “in need of some cheering up” just means somebody’s feelin’ a bit under the weather, so to speak. And sometimes, all it takes is a little kindness, a warm cup of coffee, or maybe just findin’ the right three-letter word to turn that frown upside down. That’s all there is to it.
And don’t forget, the New York Times, they like to repeat clues sometimes. So if you see “in need of some cheering up” again, you’ll know just what to do. You’ll be a regular crossword whiz in no time. Maybe even win yourself a prize or somethin’. Though around here, a blue ribbon at the county fair is about as fancy as it gets.
