That demned elusive grammar

Grammar and punctuation and tenses, are all very well and proper, but anyone who knows anything about words knows to expect anything from them. They are living things, and like all such hate to be confined. They should be allowed to run free, and if this offends grammarians, so be it: it is their loss, the words do not care, and nor should writers. All that is important is meaning and understanding and enjoyment.