Memory Path Monday

Well it's Monday and time to share another memory. You'd think it would be easy to come up with a memory a week. After all, I have 38 years worth of memories in the ol' noggin. But trying to sit down and collect my thoughts long enough to piece together a complete and accurate memory, is easier said than done!

Today I'm traversing a memory path that leads to the one and only elementary school spelling bee I ever participated in.

I attended Battell Elementary School in Mishawaka. Each year the school held a spelling bee. I hadn't participated in any of them. But for some reason, I was in this one. I can't remember what grade I was in. Probably a grade with some teacher who was very unfamiliar with my spelling prowess.

A little background on me and spelling. I come from a long line of bad spellers and never got good marks in spelling myself. So this should give you some idea of where this story is heading. The outcome isn't pretty. Lets just say I am so grateful for computers and Spell Checker as an adult. Thank you Lord!

There I stood amongst my peers and in front of a packed audience of parents, grandparents, friends, teachers and staff. The butterflies in my stomach were knocking into each other and really making me nauseous. You all know the feeling you get when you are standing in front of a crowd of people and all your classmates too. I was so nervous and so anxious for it all to be done and over with.

One by one, my classmates went up to the microphone and spelled their words correctly. Finally, it was my turn. My time to shine, right! I looked out to find my parents for a little moral support. There they sat, the look of pride all over their faces. I mustered up enough courage to move up to the microphone, ready to hear my word. I knew this was going to be a big feat for me. As I said before, I was a terrible speller and even worse under pressure!

The Pronouncer gave me my word, Honor. I swallowed hard, repeated the word and then began to spell it. It went something like this, "Honor, A-H-O-N-O-R. Honor." I knew what I had done instantly, but it was too late. A simple mistake made in a moment of weakness. I was so nervous I had spelled the word as it sounded. Completely mortified, I heard the Pronouncer say, "I'm sorry, that is incorrect." For a moment I felt all alone on that big stage, as if I was wearing a dunce cone and standing in a spot light.

As I left the stage, alligator tears began to stream down my cheeks. I was totally and completely mortified. I glanced down at my parents, again looking for that moral support. But instead, I saw that look of pride quickly change to a look of total humiliation.

Don't get me wrong, my parents did comfort me and they told me it was okay. But believe me! They have never, ever, ever let me forget it. To this very day they still tease me about that day, that spelling bee and that rotten stinking word: Honor, H-O-N-O-R!

Participating in that spelling bee was NO honor! Ask me to spell it now! I can guarantee I'll spell it right every time!

My nerves are again getting the best of me and despite Spell Checker, I'm still nervous that I've misspelled something in this post. I guess once a bad speller, always a bad speller!

Until next Memory Path Monday, may all your memories be happy ones!