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THE SPELLING BEE… and that one word that still haunts me


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The 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee is happening this week in a 2-night event beginning with the Semifinals on May 29th at 8/7c and the live Finals on May 30th at 8/7c.

You can watch it on the ION network (which is free over the air) and on most cable networks.   

I’m always amazed at how bright these little spellers happen to be.   The origin of the word (and even “using it in a sentence”) would not even begin to put me in the ballpark of being able to spell these words they spout off without much thought.

In fact, I think back to my 4th grade Spelling Bee and I STILL – to this day – remember the word that sent me packing:    PERFUME.     

Yeah, perfume!   I was always wanting a spritz of perfume ever since I was old enough to probably toddle around the bathroom.   But do you think I could spell the word correctly when it counted?  

Nope!   P-U-R-F-U-M-E.      

That got me the big buzzer.   Eau de Parfum became Eau Crap!

However, I think it was a learning moment.   I never spelled ‘perfume’ wrong again after that day.   I also didn’t enter any more spelling bees after 4th Grade either.   No thanks!   I’ll misspell words all on my own in private, thank you very much!

Laura McKenna
Laura McKenna grew up in Ohio and got her first job in radio in La Crosse in 2005. She packed up her stuff, made the move, and has been in Wisconsin ever since! Her favorite season is winter but she loves to spend all summer in her vegetable garden. When she isn't in her pink kitchen cooking up vegetarian recipes, more than likely she's taking bubble baths, reading mystery novels (sometimes while in a bubble bath), cheering for THEE Ohio State Buckeyes, or officiating weddings! She married her best friend from college last year but they still don't live in the same house yet. Laura's favorite way to spend a Friday night is watching Dateline with her cat (Phil Dawson) on her lap. She's thrilled to be back keeping you company during the workday on 105-7 CFW!
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