So, there I was - on stage as a competitor in a spelling bee.  The Wakamow Rotary Club "Adult" Spelling Bee.

I accepted a spot on the Festival of Words Team with local author Dave Richards.  How could we lose?  Well, I'll tell you how - by getting words we'd never even heard before.  We didn't make it out of the first round.  Humbling, it was.  Assistant Head Librarian Jessie Marchinko seemed to take pleasure in our maladroit attempts to spell her chosen words.  

We did add some words to our vocabularies;  Asymptotic, bourgeoisie, and baccalaureate are a few examples of the words I now know how to say and spell.

I will point out that one of my high school English teachers, Brenda Brodie, was a member of the championship team.  Good for her.

And, when we were introduced to the crowd, I pointed out my high school guidance counselor was in attendance.  Ed Nelson.  Ya, "guidance counselor."  I looked him in the eye and said, "Look where I am today, Ed.  Look where I am today."