Spelling Bee News

Kelsey participated in the Southeastern Regional Spelling Bee on March 8. We weren't sure if the bee was going to go forward because it started to snow about 7:45 that morning and just kept right on falling up until time to leave for the competition. But the message on the coordinator's voicemail said they were going to go on with it and just to be careful getting there!

So we got to UT about 12:15, 15 minutes before check-in time. We got in a fairly long line to register. There were people, people, people everywhere! Lots of bored-looking kids, lots of kids being fed spelling words by their parents, lots of people. When registration began at 12:30, Kelsey received a t-shirt, a certificate, a program, a copy of the rules and a big #3 necklacke to hang around her neck.

We waited in the auditorium until 1:15, kidding around and joking with family until the little lady told us we would be starting early because everyone was there. They called all the participants to the stage and Kelsey took her place on the front row, suddenly very serious and focused. She looked small compared to the other kids up there.

In the practice round, Kelsey spelled macaroni without hesitation. She then sat quietly while the other 38 kids went through their words. Then the REAL DEAL began. The first girl in the first round fumbled on "regime" and tearfully went off the stage and up the aisle. I was secretly pleased that Kelsey would not be the first one to go, a fear she had expressed so many times while studying. Her first round word was "Capricorn." I knew she knew this one and she spelled it without hesitation as well, even remembering to capitalize the C. She took her seat and on the round went. I think there were probably about 10 kids out by the end of the first round. They were dropping pretty fast all around her.

In the second round, the #2 girl spelled her word correctly and then Kelsey got up. The announcer asked her to spell "macrame." My heart fell because I knew this was not one of the words we had gone over. We had covered 600 of the 800+ words, but this was one she stumbled on very early in the studying and we pushed on, meaning to return to it. We just never did. She made it through the first part of the word just fine, but added an "a" at the end instead of an "e". The little bell sounded signalling an incorrect spelling and Kelsey walked off the stage, picked up her complimentary dictionary and plopped down in the seats in front of us. We stayed until the end of the round and then we headed out.

There were several members of the family with us, so we all headed off to a little celebratory lunch at Red Lobster. Kelsey was pretty frustrated on the way to lunch, but seemed to perk up once we were there. When we returned home, she set up camp on the couch for a little while and kept saying how poorly she had done. I just decided to let her work it out for herself instead of continually barraging her with the "I'm so proud of your effort" talk. Sometimes you just gotta get through it in your own mind.

That night, around 7:00, Mom called to tell us a 14-year-old girl had won it. It was her third time in this bee. The other four finalists were all 13. I think that helped Kelsey realize how big a deal even just showing up really was. She was the only third grader in the competition, the youngest speller there. She stood with no fear in front of the big auditorium and gave it her best shot. Her success came not in winning it all, but just in TRYING, in making the all-important effort. When we were leaving the bee that afternoon, some woman we did not even know came up to her and told her how close she had come to spelling her word correctly and how good she had done, obviously noticing in the program how young she was. It seemed to make Kelsey feel better.

So it was a good experience overall for her. She got lots of e-mails from her teachers and her principal expressing great pride at how she represented CFC and how they knew she would be back (not holding my breath on that one!) next year. Things are pretty much back to normal now. This week is Spirit Week at school, so our focus is now back on Crazy Hair Day, Mismatch Day and Support Your Favorite Team Day at school. Thursday is the last day before Spring Break and the weather here is getting warmer. Our first softball tournament is this weekend and Joey is playing his first high school double-header as we speak. Sydney is now wanting to take tennis lessons. Life moves on for us all, I guess!

For everybody who sent Kelsey well wishes, who came to support her Saturday, who called, e-mailed and prayed for her success, we thank you a million times over. For Kelsey, who never ceases to amaze her mom and dad with her ability to get the most out of life, you are truly AMAZING!! XOXOXOX