Worker bees

This just in from the New York Times: "Adult-only spelling bees, born of nostalgia and spiked with alcohol, have become increasingly popular social activities for brainy hipsters in their 20's and 30's."

The story says they are drawing the type of people who might normally be found at art gallery openings or indie rock concerts.

My god. They're talking about me. I'm not brainy or hip by New York standards. Or any other cities', for that matter. And I can't really spell spelling-bee words. But I do enjoy indie-rock shows. And drinking.

I might go to one or two were I living in New York.

Said one of these spelling-bee creators: "It resonates with people. Everyone has a spelling bee story."

I do, too. There were two of us left in the Hadley Middle School spelling bee. I was in seventh grade; Nathan was in sixth. I was told to spell "absorb" and said A-D-S-O-R-B. I was out. Nathan spelled his word right and won.

My cool language arts teacher, with dictionary in hand, protested. He noted that my spelling was in the dictionary. They offered me the chance to get this party rolling again.

I declined.