Under the Spell

I was raised a spelling geek, consumed from a very young age with word derivations, spelling-bee protocol and other tricks of the trade. It came in handy in the eighth grade, when I won a ten-inch black-and-white television for taking second place in the Colorado-Wyoming bee; it was handed to...

By Susan Froyd

May 15, 2008

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I was raised a spelling geek, consumed from a very young age with word derivations, spelling-bee protocol and other tricks of the trade. It came in handy in the eighth grade, when I won a ten-inch black-and-white television for taking second place in the Colorado-Wyoming bee; it was handed to me by the Rocky's Dusty Saunders himself after a seven-hour overtime spelldown. What were they thinking, anyway, giving a TV to an eighth-grader? Not that I minded. In those days, it was quite a coup, but that's another story.

Whatever the case, I'm still a closet spelling fiend, not completely ruined by watching too much television as a kid, and will be cheering at today's Tattered Cover Spelling Bee in Skyline Park, 16th and Arapahoe streets. A benefit for the Learning Source, featuring celebrity judges and competition between corporate teams, it's a little lunch-hour brain food for anyone afflicted as I am. Behold the spellers in the park from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; spectators watch for free. For details, visit www.coloradoliteracy.org or call 303-922-4683.
Fri., May 16, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., 2008

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Susan Froyd started writing for Westword as the "Thrills" editor in 1992 and never quite left the fold. These days she still freelances for the paper in addition to walking her dogs, enjoying cheap ethnic food and reading voraciously. Sometimes she writes poetry.

Contact: Susan Froyd

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