Gladiators: Observation at the Bee (Part 2 of 2)

(Cont from Gladiators-observations-of-bee-part-1-of-2)

French Revolution

When you pan the audience, one sees Non-spelling parents yawn. Parents that are spelling one can see them mouth the words in confidence. They shake their heads as they hear their child spell it wrong.  Then that surprised look as they realize that their children are better spellers than they are.

Each row of kids come up to mic. They sway to the left and right waiting for their turn. Heart is racing as the walk up to the mic. I understand that this how the aristocrats felt at the French revolution as they met the invention of Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin. 

I Love This Guy--He Takes A Fall, But He Gets Back Up

Personally, I am waiting for one to get light-headed under the pressure and take a header.Words from the Mike Meyers movie, "So I Married An Axe Murderer"--"We got a Speller Down. Speller Is Down" I can still see that spelling bee kid on ESPN. If you don’t know, here it is. I love this guy. He takes a fall and gets back up.

Wouldn't You Like To See This?

Maybe someday, we’ll see a speller, a 4^th grader with the ‘Nads’ to spell an impossible word like, “quixotic”. “Can I get a definition? Can I get that used in a sentence? Can you give me the language of origin?  “quixotic, Q-U-I-X, ummmm, I-D-O-N-‘-T-K-N-O-W-T-H-I-S-I-M-P-O-S-S-I-B-L-E-W-O-R-D-B-U-T-I –W-I-L-L-U-S-E-T-H-I-S-T-I-M-E-T-O-M-A-K-E-U-P-A-N-E-W-W-O-R-D, quixotic.”

I keep hearing Maximus words, “Are you not satisfied? Have I not entertained you?”

Life Lesson About Oneself

Oh well. A lesson that one must learn. It is something to know. Do you enjoy the competition? Some people thrive. Some others just survive. Some just decide to throw in the towel. Love them all.

Not All Are Superstores

Children are all different. Some love the heart racing. Some enjoy the thrill of victory. We need heroes to look up. Some just want to be an honorable mention. Just being part of the game, part of the competition. Guess, it is like being on a high school football or basketball team, but not good enough to be a starter.

Michael Jordan did not make the squad. He didn't turn out so bad. It's times like this day that we fail and decide to get back up. If we can remember what is important to us, and decide to do or not do anything about it.

Success is transient. It is also a habit. I applaud that those decide not play. We as a society try to fight and compete. Working long and late hours, being absent to their kids for the almighty buck.  They must choose to work extra hours to keep the roof overhead and food on the table versus being home attending those with needs. Health goes the way of diabetes and obesity. Yet, this is no subscription for quitting. This simply is a prescription to be who we decide to be and subscription to be okay with that.

Worth the Price? That's Personal

Families longing for that feeling of family-ness. Community’s  feeling communal. It is no wonder why children cocoon themselves in WII and the internet. Pay attention to children, Mom and Dad, and, then the child will pay in kind.

Being a latchkey kid, I understand learning to be my own keeper. TV was my babysitter. Library and parks my friends. Video games and comic books were my escape. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think I would want to have it any other way.

I've failed over. . .and over and over in my life. This is why I succeed
Lucky for me, I had a knack for school and a voracious hunger for learning. Being introspected was my default position. Plus, I had been prideful. When I didn't succeed, it became a mission to conquer this. Not always great trait, but it drove me to prove people wrong. It was this feeling inside these Spelling Bee-ers are facing today.  Some will take the time to learn who they are and where they want to play. I take solace is in a fellow Feb 17'er's commercial. 

Tension in the air is waning. Each parent is secretly and silently wishing that the other children will falter so they can go home sooner. Climbing that ladder of winner-dom. Learning Center is glorified arena for future lessons to learn.

Lessons to Learn: Applaud Them All. Love Them All

We are not even out of the first round. Disappointed parents are waiting to shuttle their children home. Some parents wait and silently hope the other children will have a mental hiccup. Tension fills the silence.

First round is almost over. Straight faced parent gather things. Child didn’t even get past the first round. Anger is inside them. I can see the tight lipped face. I hope they don’t follow the angry coach’s credo.” Why did you do this?” a parent says in an accusatory tone. Ouch. I hope these parents remember that the child got invited to the dance. Many weren’t.

Alas, these children will never forget how to spell his or her missed word.

Under Pressure

Almost two hours in and we are not even out of the second round. Glad I brought the laptop. Tension is unbearable at times. Sorry kids. Pressure crushes graphite and also makes diamonds. We need graphite to write. Diamonds look pretty. Both graphite and diamonds have value. Kids do, too. Show them Love.