Senior Spellers Succeed

As I type this post on my blog, senior spellers compete in the AARP's Magazine's National Spelling Bee in Cheyenne, Wyoming about 100 miles north of Denver. This year, 49 competitors range in age from 50 to 75 and come from 24 states and 1 Canadian province.

Founded by Cheyenne AARP members in 1996 to help keep their minds sharp, the bee is open to anyone at least 50 years old. Past winners cannot compete. Unlike the Scripps National Spelling Bee for school children, the senior spellers aren't booted out until they misspell three words, and everyone pays their way to get to Cheyenne.

The day starts with a written test. The top 15 scorers progress to the final to spell words out loud.

It can’t be the money that draws these competitors. The award winner gets a paltry $500. Perhaps it’s the bragging rights and the opportunity of being on nationwide TV. But it’s more likely their love of words, the challenge and the thrill of competition that keeps them coming back.

In elementary school, spelling was my favorite subject. On our weekly spelling tests, I usually earned 100%.The nuns scored it as “minus zero” not 100%, so I wouldn’t get a big head. “Nobody is perfect,” they would insist, “except for God.”

I would have been in word-heaven if there was a college degree in spelling. However, there is not a big demand for spellers in the job market.

I loathe people who downplay the importance of good spelling. I once had a boss who could never get the homonyms “heard” and “herd” quite right. I was embarrassed for him when he repeatedly mixed them up in his emails.

I think I will click on the spelling bee’s website and obtain an application for 2009.

Related Links:

'Botryoidal' a grape bee finish for N.D. man
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/global/story.asp?s=8492611

Catachresis by Patricia O'Hara at http://www.creativenonfiction.org/brevity/brev23/ohara_cata.htm

 

Comments

[Valerie Graham]

Loved it, Kate! I too am enamored with the subject of spelling and must admit I have little tolerance for those who downplay its importance—but, based on my experience, the number of people, even professionals, who couldn’t spell their way out of a paper bag is legion!

When I was in 6th grade, I came in second in the local county spelling bee in Montgomery, Alabama—I was tripped up on the word “ratification,” which after asking that the word be repeated, I spelled “radification.” Needless to say, I have never forgotten how to spell that word properly!!

By the way, I had no idea that such a competition took place in Cheyenne—learn something new every day!

Val