THATSEXCITING

POETICJUSTICEReward or punishment that may be ironic PRACTICALJOKEFilling a friend's car with balloons, e.g. SENSELESSNESSIdiocy ROLLINTOABALLArrive à la Cinderella? PRIMARYCOLORSThey can be mixed to make orange, green and purple GRANNYSQUARESPieces of crocheted fabric that make four-sided shapes ... or a hint to the theme words at 16a, 44a, 7d, and 41d: 2 wds. SEASONTOTASTESpring roll or summer sausage? OLDWIVESTALESFoolish traditions NEILARMSTRONGThe first man on the moon MOTHEROFPEARLGround opal, the former material for shiny ornamentation PUTINTHESHADETo eclipse SUNKINDESPAIRUtterly depressed APOSTLESPOONSPieces of silver handled by disciples? HUGHMCDIARMIDScottish poet whose works include A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle