Deb, For this past decade and a half, you have made readers and solvers such as myself feel less alone through a grand camaraderie. You have crafted a warm, edifying space where we all could relish our shared love of wordplay together, commiserate with each other over difficult puzzles, and marvel at the creativity of the constructions we are so honored to behold. Puzzles are a beautiful enterprise, and it was wonderful to have you at the helm here, modeling kindness and joy. This is bittersweet, of course, but I can sense the robust opportunity and joie de vivre in a line such as this: "I am endlessly curious about this world we live in and would like to see more of it. I will have the time to read all the books I never got to, and my family are looking forward to seeing more of me." And it is my most fervent wish that your retirement is filled with every good thing that you seek (including lots and lots of puns). Thank you, Deb. It has been an honor having you here.
@Mike @Deb I can't say it any better than Mike. I hope retirement is everything you've wanted your entire working life. And more.
@Mike Very well said, Mike. Best of luck as your next chapter unfolds, Deb!
@Mike Hear, hear. And Deb, Thanks for giving us advance notice. It won’t make the parting any less sorrowful, but it does remind us to savor the gift of your writing while we can. You will be sorely missed.
@Mike, Thanks for saying it so well. Deb, I'll miss you because your writing is hilarious! I wasn't really looking forward to retirement, but I fought the law and the law won. Since that day arrived, I've loved every minute of it. May it work its magic on you as well.
@Mike I solved my first NYT puzzle about ten years ago with my brother in law on a visit. I always wanted to try a Times puzzle, but I did not know that Saturday was the hardest day, and our combined effort complete with Googling endlessly came to a success only 2 1/2 hours later. Now I am thoroughly hooked on both the routine of the daily puzzle, and the Wordplay column, where I have never known a time without Deb. So I wanted to say something profound to her to express my best wishes for her retirement and my sadness for the prospect of no longer seeing her byline on the column. Fortunately, you did it for me, better than I could ever hope to. Thanks.
@Mike you really have a way with words, both punny and eloquent. Thank you for putting my/our sentiments into words far better than I could hope to write. @Deb what he said 😌
@Mike @Deb Hear, hear!!!
@Mike 100% agree, well said. Kudos!
@Mike I can't top that. We'll miss you, Deb!
@Mike beautifully put and I agree! Thank you @Deb!!
Deb, Thanks for helping keep me sane (saner?) for the past several years. Like a great teacher, you will never know how many lives you’ve touched through your kindness, humor, patience and infectious enthusiasm for crosswords. I can tell you: 48,973. Give or take. Excellent debut!
"Wow, that circle you drew is perfect!" "Not quite. But it's wheely good." (That has a ring to it.)
@Mike Whirl all giving you a round of applause! You've never gone flat orbit off more that you could chew, and I hope you're coin to keep on keeping us rolling on the floor.
@Mike, oh Mike, “wheely good”?! Cmon, this is a tired joke
@Mike I think you used this one last year. It's becoming an annular thing... I ended that with an ellipse!
You all have made me truly verklempt today. Thank you. 🩵
Wow. What a great Thursday puzzle! I had to use Wordplay to figure out the theme but that’s ok. Once I got it, it made me smile! 😁 The southwest corner was tricky for me, too. Thanks Kyle for a great puzzle! Deb, thanks for taking me under your wing years ago! You gave me permission to get help when I needed it and that makes solving the puzzles so much better. I don’t get frustrated and I am constantly amazed by the great puzzles the constructors make every day. The things they come up with make each solving day a new adventure. You will be missed! I am retired and highly recommend it! Maybe in your travels you can come see our beautiful mountains in WNC. Godspeed for the journey! Y’all have a wonderful Thursday!
You will be sorely missed, Deb. Thanks for all the hints & explanations. Best of luck in your next endeavor.
About the column: I remember coming here for the first few times, some years ago (and I still think of myself as a noob) I immediately was affected by the welcoming warmth, wit and intelligence of Deb's columns, their patience, the lack of condescension, the geniality. This set the tone for the commenters, too, and peace reigned throughout the land. I also think Caitlin and Sam will be fine stewards forward of your singular achievement here, in creating such a wide and inclusive tent, that allows us noobs to mingle with such esteemed peers. It's a special place and a lot of it was your doing, Deb. Puzzle: I loved the loop-dee-loops, extra points (!) for MISSES crossing SHOOTS SOME HOOPS -- that would be me! It may be that I'm spoiled but hey if your revealer is going to be WHEELS, then there better be some cool graphic of spinnin' wheels once we get a gold star, and I felt positively gypped. Just for yuks I started in the bottom left and dutifully filled in ROF APPLAUSE. I stared at it for a few seconds, then decided it must be Roll On the Floor Applause, like the audience is so chuffed by what they just saw that they're rolling around in the aisles, clapping and kicking up their legs. We've all been to performances like that at some point in our lives. Can't a pessimist be a hoper, too? That would be me.
@john ezra I'm sure you've heard a pessimist is a heart-broken idealist. That would be me. But I try very hard not to hope. I learned early on that I deal with tragedy far better if I am mentally prepared for it.
Oh Deb, you have never failed to support us, without ever making us feel that we are dummies: You gracefully encouraged the newbies, bolstered the middle ground, and expressed camaraderie for the wizards. It can't have been easy to strike a perfect tone for all of us, but you did it, and I, for one, am afraid I took it for granted that you would always be here. Despite my sudden attack of separation anxiety and feeling SILOED, I am wishing you a beautiful, deadline-free retirement, full of adventure and opportunities for exploration. There is so much to look forward to now! About this puzzle, Kyle Perkins, it is almost impossible to believe that it is your debut. The clues were elegant, polished, clever, and fun, and the idea of constructing such a mature piece of work your first time out is mind-boggling. It's truly amazing that you did it while being a dad and a lover of outdoor living. All that exercise must be keeping your brain operating on all cylinders. Congratulations!
Oh Deb, I am so grateful for you. Yes, you have made me smile, made me laugh, helped me to understand tricky points, but most importantly – well, let Maya Angelou say it: “… people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” It’s the feeling of you, Deb, that I treasure most – like you’re family, like you’re a dear friend, and one of those people I love to be around because you simply feel so good to be around. You’ve been a rare and wonderful gift, a boon to my life that I’ll always – always – remember fondly. Thank you.
My TIL: Getting the answer to whether SPONGES (the living kind) are plants or animals.
Great debut puzzle! I affectionately call these sorts of crosswords where the answers move in nonlinear lines “snakes” and this one was a HOOT! I started doing the Times in 2023, my goal was to learn how to solve each day of the week. Deb, your column was a massive help when I needed a hint, or help understanding a theme. I’ve come a ways, racking up over 3000 NYT puzzles (I play extensively in the archives), and feel confident solving every day of the week. I’ve branched out into cryptics (love wordplay), other crosswords (NYT will always be my first love), and logic puzzles. I’m so grateful to the entire NYT Games team, all the constructors, and the games community for creating this wonderful puzzle which sustains and enriches so many of us. Thank you, Deb, and best of luck on your next adventures! I’m beyond excited for Puzzle Mania (preordered my copy and also treated myself to Joel Fagliano’s Puzzle Mania book too!) I’m celebrating Shortzmas. Cool jazz, hot tea, holiday sweets, and Will Shortz puzzles.
Deb, I am verklempt. As usual, everyone else is going to be much more articulate than me. But I wanna know, who's gonna take care of the emus?
@Vaer Indeed. When I read Deb's pre-farewell, my first reaction was that we had finally exhausted her previously inexhaustible good graces. We have thrown literally thousands of posts at her lately and, no matter how gracefully the emus twist and writhe, inevitably some of those posts will land /splat/ in her lap. But her responses have always been gracious and friendly, whether we were asking for the impossible (technology- or otherwise) or nitpicking her column. Brava, Deb. This non-place will remain behind but there will always be an Amlen-shaped unfillable gap. Have a new kind of wonderful life.
Hello Deb- I just wanted to write that your column made me a better crossword solver and I've enjoyed your enjoyment of the puzzles. I'm still looking up sports terms, but I no longer feel bad when there's a rebus or when I can't spot a them at first glance. I look forward to your last columns and I hope you get to travel to many places and enjoy the time you've earned.
@Miriam Hear hear. Deb I’ve loved your columns, and I’ll savor the next few weeks.
If I am not mistaken Deb not only pefected the genre, she invented it. Who'd a thunk that meta talk about crossword puzzles could attract more than a couple of geek readers, much less that it could hold their attention for 15 years? For a long time, she did single-handedly what is now handled by a team, without going stale or lapsing into fanspeak. Brava and ciao!
Deb, Congratulations! Thank you for all the fish (wrap). No, really, your page was the one I set aside, I swear. When I do other puzzles, I often think, “I wonder how Deb would describe *that* one?” Thank you for the columns, the jokes, for reading our comments, for responding helpfully and sincerely. Your subject matter may just have been daily puzzles, but your humanity shone through your writing, luminously. Great health and long, happy retirement! And think: if you ever get the urge to use an Oxford comma, now you can!
was it intentional that the repeated letter in all the loops was O? for another round thing?
I was too sleepy to read the column last night, and now what do I find: our funny, generous mensch is retiring. Deb, I especially appreciate how you have fostered a welcoming feel to this place. More places should be like that, but you certainly know it doesn’t just happen by accident. Best wishes to you!
Much love to you in your new chapter of life, Deb! Puzzle comments to come, just wanted to get that in.
Wishing you the best in your retirement, Deb. I love reading your clue columns.
You are my favorite, no offense to Ms Lovinger or Ms Corbin. I will miss your column immensely. I'm sorry for your unfortunate ear worm. Mostly because my husband died recently, my ear worm is Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman, Time to Say Goodbye. All day , every day.
@Elke Deb is my favorite too. She’s the only one who will let us know (in her own polite way) if she didn’t particularly love a puzzle. That honesty is refreshing. Elke, I am so very sorry to hear about your husband’s passing. It must be such a rough time for you. As Robert Frost said, “The only way out is through.” So if listening to that gorgeous song on repeat helps, then so be it. Take care, Elizabeth
Deb - I just wanted to put in my two cents and say how much I am going to miss you. I started doing the NYT crossword at the beginning of the pandemic shutdown and am proud (and shocked) to say I have an unbroken streak. In addition to enjoying working the puzzle, I have to say that reading your column is equally enjoyable. I so look forward to it every week, truly. You are an excellent writer, and I find your humor to be “on my wavelength.” I will savor your remaining columns until your final sign off. Best of luck in your retirement!
It is the best of days, it is the worst of days. I couldn't wait to come here to let everyone, including Kyle Perkins, know how much I enjoyed solving his debut - maybe my favorite ever - only to find out our friend Deb Amlen is retiring. I enjoy waking up and solving these puzzles but reading Deb's thoughtful commentary and heartfelt encouragement afterwards is the icing on the cake, and a great way to start the day. I can't imagine anyone filling your shoes. I'm going to resist my first instinct and not beg you to stay, because I'm sure you're making the right move. Your retirement plan sounds perfect. Best wishes and thanks for obvious effort you put into every single column over the years. You will be missed.
Deb, I hope we meet on a future travel. I have really enjoyed your columns and humor. Now you can travel the rivers you've only read about in puzzles. What's the capital of Samoa? Now you can find out.
Deb, I read your announcement first on that other page, and cried almost as much as I did watching Jimmy K's monologue/eulogy for his friend last night. It evoked so many of the same emotions. I feel as if we're all losing a close friend. I did comment there, where I use 3/4 of my legal name, but it bears briefly repeating how much joy you have given me and everyone else who are regular devotees of your columns. I started solving these puzzles before you were born, yet the graciousness of your words have left a meaningful impression, and you've been a model of patience and guidance for the newer and younger solvers.. Change is hard, but retirement is wonderful, so long as you have your health. And so I wish you a long, happy, and healthy retirement, and lots of joy in your new endeavors. Mazel tov!
Great puzzle Kyle. Enjoyed very much. Deb...I dont read the column too much anymore but 5 years ago when I started my NYT puzzle subscription your column was invaluable and an inspiration to keep trying. Plus, just funny. I wish you the best whatever the future holds for you. A warm and sincere Thank You!
Congratulations Deb on the retirement! It's great that you are leaving on your own terms. I will be sorry to see your byline go. Your warm thoughts are reflected back from the motley crew here. We always appreciate what has to be a tricky job, even if we rarely say it. This was a good puzzle and a fine Thursday fit. I confess that I'm still a little shaky as to when the words come on and off the wheels - sometimes it seems letters are re-used and sometimes not, but I'm too lazy to really check. It almost always turns out the constructor has it covered properly. As you say, a formidable debut puzzle. And I disagree about hoper - compared to so much of the crazy fill we get this was a perfectly fine answer. More than cromulent. ;) Bon chance!
Wow Deb! Congratulations! 🎉 👏 You are one of the reasons I’ve been a long time subscriber of the NY crossword puzzle. I remember when you & Sam did the live chats and walked through solving puzzles. Specifically the session with Bowen Yang of SNL. It was great fun! I’m better at solving puzzles than I am at expressing what you have meant to my love of crossword puzzles. I’ve even come around to not dreading a REBUS 😉. So thank you Deb. 🙏💗 PS - I’ve been retired for 5 yrs & love it! Hubs just retired a few months ago (I do remind him I have my routine 😆).
@Dawn on the road just started watching it! thanks. I enjoyed that series but I guess i didn't see all of them. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OanBIkdlRck" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OanBIkdlRck</a>
I did the puzzle. Now, who is this Deb everyone is talking about in the comments?
@Barry Ancona You must be new around here, so I'll gently suggest that you read the column before you write your comments.
@Barry Ancona 😂😂😂 Priceless!
Ouch. And, “Yay!” And ouch… So thrilled for you and your family, Deb. But the most beautiful thing you can leave behind are people that feel a true loss when you go. And you got that in spades. It will simply not be the same here. And (virtual)friend to friend, I will so miss you. But, man! We’ve been so blessed to have you! Enjoy these last weeks! I know I’ll be savoring your columns more than ever!
A big R[OUND O]F APPLAUSE for Deb!
Have to admit that the only Crossword Column pieces I always 'completely' read - - and look forward to now twice weekly - - are those written by the delightful Deb Amlen. During COVID, when many of a certain age hadn't yet realized we were being 'forced' into retirement, or simply because we were stuck inside, I recall Ms. Amlen's online solving sessions where her readers got to know her in a more personal manner. It was a few minutes of communal solving that put smiles on faces and got this reader hooked on crossword solving. I will be forever grateful to Deb Amlen for that, and will always remember her. I wish her a long and fulfilling journey ahead, and much love from one of surely thousands who have read her columns as if she were a caring friend, speaking directly to us, and always offering wise advice. She will surely be missed. And always loved. Salud, Deb Amlen, and thank you. 🍷
I learned something yesterday about streaks. Sorry about my strange comment about there being so few comments. I usually do the puzzle after dinner while my husband does the dishes. (I cook, he cleans.) Last night we had late dinner and when I sat down to do the puzzle I did the newest one, not noticing that it was already the Wed puzzle. After 7 pm PST. I finished it, went to read column and comments as always, and was so surprised at only 75 comments. Before going to bed -- now 11 pm PST -- I realized I hadn't finished the other puzzles, so went to do them. That's when I noticed I'd done Wed, but never Tuesday! I assumed my streak was blown. But I did Tuesday before midnight, so it was still Tues, and the Stats page kept my streak! I knew that if I missed a day and did it before I did the next day's that the streak would remain. But I didn't know I could do them out of order if the earlier one finished on its correct day. I've done 2800 puzzles, but streak is only 45 days, so not a big deal to lose it. Longest is 625 days, but usually every couple of months I miss a day or two and start the streak over. Not a big deal to me. But now it's Wed and the puzzle is already finished -- so I'm writing this long harrangue on the Thursday comments. Again, it's after 10 pm in New York....
@Sue If you are on a computer, the streak is calculated by local time for the client device, so you can also change your timezone (or even your clock a few days) to keep a streak alive. Writing this could change that though.
How long can you wait to complete a missed puzzle in order to maintain a streak?
I would just like to point out that, contrary to a common misunderstanding, the canned meat that contains bot flesh is not actual Spam. Bot was only used in a special series of canned meats pressed by the Swiss Legos Institute “in honour of Spam”. That canned product was officially sold as Smoove Kudo. Other than that, no bones to pick. Good puzzle.
Oops. Forgot to mention I am only talking here about non-human Spam. But as we all know, human Spam is green, so no chance of confusion.
Was it intentional that we have a clue about a two-cent piece, with a picture of a ROLL of pennies in the column, on the day after the US Mint produced its final batch of pennies? <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/business/penny-coin-legacy.html" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/business/penny-coin-legacy.html</a>
@Dave K. I am thinking it is not a simple coincidence.
@Dave K. And also for today's Spelling Bee the first word I saw was COIN.
Deb, I've enjoyed your Wordplay so much!! I don't see carrying my current 1775 day streak past Jan. 02. It just won't be the same. You will be missed. Awesome work!!
Deb Glad to hear that it won't be a sudden disappearance but a measured fading away. Sort of like the Cheshire Cat? Let me add my voice to the chorus of praise. Here's a chorus from an old song that seems appropriate: "And the days turn to gold as they grow few September, November And these few golden days I'd spend with you These golden days I'd spend with you" All the best for the future.
Delightful puzzle. And Deb, thanks so much for being a voice of gentleness, encouragement, clarity, positivity, and humor for all these years. May you love your next act!
This is a hard theme to pull off, as the gray squares, which have to be filled in with specific letters, greatly restrict the words that can go into the grid’s white squares. Also, the horizontal theme answers have to be of certain lengths to meet symmetry, and coming up with this set had to be a bear. Despite these roadblocks, this grid is sprinkled with beauty: MUESLI, ROUND OF APPLAUSE, PESTER, SPONGES (as clued), PULL FOR, GROTTOEES, THROW FOR A LOOP, and OH C’MON. Those last two, by the way, are NYT answer debuts. Pulling this all off on a debut is most impressive, not to mention doing so while jockeying a job and three small kids. Wow! I’ve seen going-in-circles puzzles like this before, but it’s been a hot minute, and they’re a HOOT to fill in. I love the specific type riddling they kindle, where you have to think like you do in a rebus puzzle, squeeze extra answers into an answer. Congratulations on your debut, Kyle, and I’m eager to see more from you. Thank you!
It’s a beautiful debut with an even sweeter constructor’s note. Deb, you’ve helped me with the crossword from my first solve, back in 2015 when I was going through an awful, awful breakup and needed something to take my mind off things. I couldn’t imagine I’d be a crossword solver but you unknowingly took me by the hand and turned me into a daily solver, the one thing I could control in my silly little life. Wishing you so much peace and joy in your retirement, and thank you again.
Just want to add my own note of gratitude to Deb for so many fine columns. When I subscribed five years ago and ventured into Wordplay, her column was the first thing I saw. Deb’s good humor and unwavering, positive support for constructors, solvers, puzzles and wordplay drew me into this community. (Well, that and Barry Ancona!) Glad to know we have a little while yet to prepare for her departure. Best wishes and congratulations, Deb!
I liked the trick. I caught onto it with ROLLS ONES EYES, which I found very appropriate as a person who is often annoyed and impatient 🤣 The fill was very hard for me in places, which resulted in a Saturday-timed solve. I had to look up IHOP (by now I have learned this brand, but of course constructors or editors keep finding ways to clue it ever more arcanely) and ROOK (slang is my Achilles's heel; the dictionary tells me this usage is old-fashioned informal, so pretty much beyond me), and ESP (I just couldn't be bothered). I'm confused by TAG meaning "make it". I'm finding it difficult to see how it would work. Is it about a game of tag? But shouldn't then the clue be: make "it"? If so, meh. I really dislike it when language is misused for misdirection. I wish AAH/AhH were banned from these crosswords. It's such blatant filler, and afflicted by the Kea/Loa virus, too. Can't say I liked the crosswordese HOPER. It just looks so wrong 🫤 Ever since I first saw her I have thought Peppa is one of the most disturbing things in the universe. Why is her mouth in the wrong place for a pig, and why, god, *why* are both her flipping eyes on one side of her *nose* 😳. I'm soooo glad she never appeared in any of my nightmares... But at least knowing of her gave me OINK today. So yeah, I enjoyed the theme but my personal solving experience was marred by some of the fill.
@Andrzej I didn’t understand TAG either. There is a phrase in baseball, you make a TAG, but that seems very odd; I haven’t read all the other comments yet so maybe someone else has explained.
@Andrzej On second thought, I think you are right, when you tag someone in the children’s game you make them “it”. But I think if that’s the case I do think there should have been quotes or maybe a capital letter; if I were writing this as a sentence, I would write “When you tag someone in the game, you write ‘You’re It!’”—or “You’re ‘it’!” but not “You’re it!” But as Barry always reminds us, it’s a crossword, and misdirection is part of the game.
@Andrzej - In hide and seek, when you tag someone they become "it". Many congratulations on your upcoming retirement, Deb! I always enjoy solving the puzzles but your column adds more fun. And I appreciate your links to related videos, etc. (Special thanks for the link to Cynthia Arivo's song in Wicked.)
@Andrzej I agree, the clue should have been “make ‘it’”.
Say it ain’t so, Deb!! You will be sorely missed, your columns were always interesting, thoughtful, and on the mark.
Congratulations! Your voice is the reason I so enjoy the puzzle. You make me smile at 2am and forget my woes. Glad to know you will keep on writing though but at your own pace. Thank you and may your next chapter bring you joy.
Deb, I hope you have so much fun in your retirement, you’ve fostered so much fun here. What will this ragtag group of curmudgeons do without you?
I think like a lot of people like me (in my case, intimidated by the dad’s puzzle habit) read Deb’s column and thought that we might “be allowed” to do the crossword after all. Thank you for your generosity and LDRship. Come back and comment with us some time!!
Deb, I will really miss your voice in this column. Your natural instinct to encourage, prod, and reassure solvers is a treasure, the like of which we could certainly use more of in this world. I will miss you every time, late in the week, when I get stuck and think, "I hope this is a Deb Day," as I head to the Wordplay column for a lifeline. With a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat, I thank you very much for your service. Go forth and enjoy!
Congratulations on your retirement, Deb! It's an act of genius that you selected a picture of a coin that's being retired on the same day that you announce your retirement. Well done!
@Mr Dave A roll of pennies, no less: ties into the crossword theme.
Thank you Deb for making sense of all of this with humour and kindness. It’s been a pleasure to read your column. Enjoy your next adventures
Well I didn't expect to cry on this random Thursday morning, but here we are. Thank you for everything Deb <3
To Deb: NOOOOOOO! As the inimitable Hammerstein wrote: Regretfully they tell us But firmly they compel us To say goodbye To you So long, farewell Auf widersehen, goodnight [...] Goodbye Goodbye Goodbye Goodbye [Insert SOBbing emoji here!] But good luck in the new life. I love your writing, and hope to read your works elsewhere.
First of all - so sorry to see that Deb will be departing; she will be greatly missed. But... trust that she will enjoy her retirement. All the best to you, Deb. And... the puzzle. Typical long Thursday workout for me, but catching on to the trick was the big turning point and that's always the best touch for a Thursday. Really enjoyed it. And as usual, I have some puzzle finds. I'll put those in a reply. ...
@Rich in Atlanta As threatened. First a Tuesday from August 11, 2020 by Amanda Rafkin and Ross Trudeau. Four 15 letter answers in that one, all straightforwardly clued: DERRINGERPISTOL REWRITESHISTORY PRESIDENTWILSON VERMICELLIBOWLS And then, the reveal clue and answer: "Refrain in a children's song ... or a literal feature of 17-, 25-, 42- and 55-Across" EIEIO Here's that link: <a href="https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=8/11/2020&g=37&d=A" target="_blank">https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=8/11/2020&g=37&d=A</a> Might put another puzzle in a reply. ...