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.

Gladiators: Observations of the Bee (Part 1 of 2)

Coliseum--Gladiators line up waiting to battle the unspoken foes. Hours spent honing their skills. They feel the onlookers. Family and friends in the audience. Their competitions’ family and friends are also in the background. Their voices ring out. Tension is in the air. Their voices drop and rise as they walk to center stage.

Lining Up

Their handler up front directs participants right or left. Victors are guided right and Fallen go to the left. Watchers let a collective sigh as these children warriors step up the stand. Periodically, you see parent rise as their children walk up front to their teachers and leaders. Children are panel-ized. They stand in front of the Panel Three. Each judge gives the thumbs up and thumbs down at the tiny gladiator’s performance.

I wonder if the little ones knows that this is a marathon. Some are spent before they even get up there. You can hear it in their voice. Others you can tell they are enjoying this moment. The sound of their voice rings throughout the auditorium.

Tension is in the air. Parents waiting for the kids to come up. The speaker makes announcements of special guests to the event. Little 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th graders—Gladiators—all of them. Parents with camcorders and cell phone cameras are making mini-movies. The arena is a grade school cafeteria.

All the kids are lined up walking up to the mic. Each saying their name in hurried, gaspy breaths. Tension in the air chokes the child’s voice. Not even the first mile in this marathon. Some will burn out in the flutter. Some will take flight and soar.

Voices

“My name is Jonathon. My name is Noel. My name is. . .” The parade of children stand and speak into the mic. Ready to battle in the Bee. Hope they know that the battle is within themselves. It is the battle of mastering that word. It is not against each other.  It is battle of confidence. A battle of knowledge. A battle of nerves.

“There will be winners and losers. . .” the principal says.

Yikes. Funny, we are marketed that participating is key. Here these kids are given a wake-up call. A tough life lesson of the bell curve. Some are exceptional. Some are special ed. All are of worth. If we can only remember, that at times the strong are not as strong. Sometimes the weak are not as weak. This is why we play the game.

It Is What It Is

Perhaps this Bee—this competition—is a crucible? We can whittle away all the unnecessariness, all the fluff. We can learn who we are and who we chose to be.

Personally, never was the top 1 percent. On the fringe of being honorable mention. Actually, elite. Not super elite, but I had game. Learned at an early age that I liked to compete and train. Preparing myself for the arena. Knew that my skill was not the brightest, strongest, the fastest. Learned my strength was perseverance. Learned how to manage my strengths and weakness.

Like an actor to perform on stage, I enjoyed when my heart raced. My vision gets narrow and wide at the same time. Feeling of winning was addicting.  Enjoyed conquering this wave that is outside and inside of me.

Alas, this stage if for the younger children. Some will stand. Some will falter. Its just the Bell Curve in effect. One may think “Not Everyone is Extraordinary.”

Trouble is everyone is. Everyone is extraordinary. Everyone is unique. Everyone is special. Caveat needs to be said. Not everyone is extraordinary in this task. Not extraordinary skill. Only 0.03 percent of high school kids will be in the NBA.  Not all win the Nobel.

The First speller stands. The announcer gives the word. “C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N-S-H-I-P” first child speaks.  A collective sigh is exhaled. Tension relieved. Claps unconsciously  rise. This despite a very clear directions to hold all applause until after the rounds are completed.

First round is a funny sight. Midway some fall. Some shout and wakes up the entire audience. Ah, tension is relieved.  

“M-A-G-N-E-T-I-Z-E, magnetize” She is directed right. Next speller, M-E-M-O-R-Y, memory. He, too, is directed right.

A la Gauche

Audience is so quiet. So scary. Each parent looks at each other wondering if the child spelled it right

“T-R-A-G-I-C. . .”  the happy parent smiles. “. . .K, tragic.”  Parent’s smile disappears. Child is a First Rounder Goner. Sucks.  Fitting word. It’s I-R-O-N-I-C-A-L. Okay, I go to the left.
gladiators-observation-at-bee-part-1 continued 

Gattacca-ified: What's Your Passion?

"Soak up the Sun," "I Believe. . .," "Are You Strong Enough?"--What do these have in common? If you figure it, leave it on comment.

Questions Spark Post
Questions on posts have sparked interest for me. Had one person state lines from movies and one had to guess the movie. For some reason, I was hooked. It is funny how certain lines triggers certain heuristics. Mine obviously include comics, sci-fi, movies, heroes--Modern Mythology. I have been reading a book to increase your intelligence. Thought it would be fun to try it for awhile as an exercise to increase the mind power. Lately, I have been living at the gym and I always have been attracted to the ideal of the philosopher king. As a Sig Ep, Balanced Man was the motto. I even played Leonardo da Vinci in Jr High.

What Are Your Super Powers?
The book discusses various types of intelligence. When I studied psychology, it listed the three: Book smart, street smart, and art smart (creative smart). This book discusses mathematical ability, spatial-relationship, social skills, sensory-motor, memory, creative smarts, and so on.

In the comic genre, characters had various abilities, various strength. Hulk had superhuman strength. Doctor Strange was the Master of Mystic Arts. Reed Richards was a braniac. I don't know if you were like me, I wanted to be the best at everything. My Physic Instructor, Lutenhizer-wrote in my yearbook, "Jack-of All Trades . . ." I learned later, the rest of the line, ". . .Master of None." Ouch. It was true. That was who I was. I was okay with at the time. Until I got "Gattacc-ified" (I will explain later)

Never was the Elite. Top 10% of class, AP, Advanced,GATE for awhile. I was on track and was in some all-stars. Wrestling, JV at first,varsity later, but not Golden League. I just wasn't Will Hunting, from Good WIll Huting. People at a very young age realize there is a variant levels of abilities. There is always, somebody else faster, stronger, smarter, prettier. Heavy concepts for grade schoolers. Naturally, person develops feelings of inadequacies. Thanks, Eric Erickson and your stupid stages.

Gattaca-ified
I admire people that are "unacceptingly satisfied" with their abilities compared to others. This I mean is they accept their lot in life and realize that some people have abilities,e.g., Einstein's smarts, Kobe's basketballship, Clinton's political skill. Yet, these people still strive to be better and do more. Perhaps, its genetically hardwired to strive and excel.

I ask, what are you good at? What are your superpowers? If your abilities--your powers--your skills that made you special were taken from you, what would you do and how would you feel? I ask because every day we are sapped of our ability. The taker of our ability is Age. We lose a little something--mental faculty, physical strength, charisma, etcetera.

Sure this a bit disheartening. However, I look at it as a gift. Our mortality makes our life richer. Borrowing a line from Duncan McCloud, Connor McCloud (another TV reference, guess) but "Do you want to live forever?" This finite gives us the kick in the butt to do what we want to do. I mean give a life expectancy of 70+ years what do you want to get done? Give us our inheritance genes, social status, and throw in a touch Fate--Taa Daa. A show that goes on.Tangeled Skein, Piers Anthony. Bucket List, Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicklaus. You get a movie called Gattacca. By the way, that is where the Title of this blog came from.

Okay, let me say it this way. Find your passion. Write It Down. Be Your Own Super Hero. Answer to the questions, "How did do it? How did you accomplish, what you did? The response needs to be, "I Never Left Anything For the Swim Back" Look at all the supposed successful people in life in their respected field. Einstein had no fashion sense. Ali got whallopped by the government for views and had his titled stripped away. George Foreman got up from the mat and became heavy weight chance hundreds of boxing years later. Bill Gates will not be on the cover of Men's Fitness for his abs. You get my meaning.

No, Its not Survival of Strongest, Fastest, Smartest
Darwin states key concept of evolution is "the survival of the fittest." In society, it appears celebrity-dom is now the skill to be prized. Before, it was hunter-gathering ability. It was gladiator-dom. Then, Church political skill. Sport skill. Now, beauty attributes. In Romance Age, it used to be vogue to be fat. In the mid-20th century, skinny was in.

Popularity is In.
Social skill saviness--how many friends/fans/followers/subscribers do you have--are now being rewarded. Companies are paying bucks for one's popularity. Come on Oprah Winfrey jumping ABC ship and starting her own network. Its just Convergence and Divergence. Growth and Divesture. Telephone Industries and its Baby Bells. Critical Mass, baby.

Fate: Three Ladies Not to Be Ignored.
Yet, it could be gone. Fate could throw a curve ball. Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos-will not be ignored. (Piers Anthony/Greek Mythology/ Fate--Wikepedia to get background)An earthquake here. A minor gaffe their and the skills, abilities, fortunes made--Gone. Tiger Woods had indiscretions and poof, sponsors said bye-bye. What once was prized could now be a detriment. French revolution, Tale of Two Cities--Being Aristocratic. Black and White Moths of the UK switch dominance in the factory polluted forests. Jackie Robinson and sports in general today. Look at Yao Ming and Asians in African American dominated sports. How about Jiu Jitsu--Not Asian thing anymore. Its BJJ and the Gracie lineage, if you don't know, ask any UFC/MMA fan. One hit wonders or be in the Hall of Fame. Cooperstown or America's Most Wanted. Perrenial/ Mainstay All-Stars or Flash Pan, A Moment In the Stars. . .

Well, anyways I said much ado about something. I hope this triggers some reflection and hopefully generate some foresight in your life. I hope you get the "Gattacca-ified" (Another blog post for another day)