A Competition

Ericeticolous. Geistlich. Melopoeia. Phthisology. Yttriferous. Maieutic. Saccharolytic. Schwannoma. Chionablepsia. A new language you may ask? Au contraire mon ami. These our words from our very own Merriam-Webster dictionary. And these arcane tongue-twisters were just a few gems asked by Dr. Jacques Bailly of the Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals Competition on ESPN of mostly 14 year olds (some were younger omg) to spell correctly this past week on ESPN.

278 finalists from around the world started the competition to crown the country's best speller. When I caught up with the proceedings, only 6 eighth graders remained. Three boys, three girls. All American via India, Russia, Jamaica and Israel. None from FW Gregory Elementary School in New Orleans or Mann Elementary School in St. Louis. Another reason to keep the immigration gates open to those who are gifted, come from supportive families and want to succeed in America. As I tell our kids, if you want to succeed in this country adopt an immigrant mentality and willingness to work like the dickens.

As the words became harder, the contestants started to falter. Arvind, third place finisher last year as a 11 year old and a darling of the adoring crowd for writing the word in the palm of his hand before he speaks, failed on the word schwamerei. His parents were there to comfort him. The 12 year old didn't look all that upset. He knows he has two more years of eligiblity left. An interviewer asked Arvind after the contest, "how do you prepare for the competition?" Arvind responded without hesitation, "I read 53 pages of the dictionary a night." In my English dictionary there are over 2,200 pages, so, per my calcs young Arvind spends 42 days reading the dictionary. Arvin added, " I've probably spent over 600 hours studying the dictionary." That's superhuman. Does the kid ever sleep, eat or have fun? For us mortals, try reading one page of the dictionary and, more importantly, try to remember what you read.

The final two contestants for the crown were Stuti and Snigdha. Two lovely girls from Florida and California respectively. Stuti missed one letter in a polysyllabic brain tease. While Snigdha, her name in Sanskrit means "smooth like honey", nailed her final word guet-apens to win the competition. I checked on that word. It's not in my English dictionary. Oh yes, how silly of me, it's language of origin is French, has three alternate pronounciations and has two parts of speech. I guess Snigdha reads the French dictionary as well. Hear that Arvind for next year?

Congrats to all for another brilliant show of genius and fun.

By the way, the moderator mentioned earlier, Dr. Jacques Bailly, won the National Spelling Bee in 1980.

Bottleneck at 8,000 Meters

Reading time 3 minutes.

Late May is Everest time. And this past weekend in late May, a human traffic jam at the top of the world occurred on Mount Everest at 29,029 feet. Isn't there anyplace on earth anymore where one can get away?

150 intrepid and some crazy mountaineers waited their turn to summit Mount Everest on Saturday and Sunday past. Hanging out with buddies in icy terrain, high winds, below freezing temperatures, oxygen-deprived air above the 8,000meter "death zone" on a $50,000 torture trip is not my idea of a good time. And it is not only the money that costs you but the ascent or, more importantly, the descent may cost you your life. 6 unfortunates lost their lives this season of the 240 successful round-trippers. Families around the world are grieving now for their personal loss of one of their own not to war, or to disease or to violence but a self-inflicted loss of desiring to climb the tallest mountain in the world. Seems so selfish and such a terrible waste of time, talent and treasure to me.

Since 1953 when Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were the first to summit and return from Mount Everest, 4000 have lived to talk about their successes. Unfortunately, another 200 plus have died on that massive mountain forever frozen in time and place. For those who summit, they have 1 in 10 chance in making it back to base camp alive albeit without a few toes, fingers and nose. Even if you survive, Everest exacts its pound of flesh from you. As a wise Tibetan monk once said of those wanting to conquer Everest, "I feel great compassion for them to suffer so much for such meaningless work."

So as the climbing season closes on Everest for 2012, the climbing applications are flowing into Nepal and Tibet permit departments for 2013 on Everest. Seemingly, the traffic jams will resume again next year at the top of the world.

One thing is for certain, I will not be in that line at the top of the world in 2013 or anytime soon. You see, I prefer the color green to white. And the temps in the 70s. I'll stick with sea level. It's so boringly normal down here. And that's OK.

Cheers.

The Honored Fallen

As we celebrate this Memorial Day, let us never forget the ultimate sacrifice given by those hundreds of thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen who gave their lives for our freedom. In their memory and for all those families who have lost a hero, this 2007 beautiful song by Tim McGraw is for you:

"If You're Reading This"

If you're reading this
My Mommas sittin there
Looks like I only got a one way ticket over here
Sure I wish
Could give you one more kiss
And war was just a game we played when we were kids

I'm laying down my gun
I'm hanging up my boots
I'm up here with God and we're both watching over you

So lay me down
In that open field on the edge of town
And know my soul
Is where my momma always prayed
That it would go
And if you're reading this
I'm already home

If you're reading this
Half way around the world
I won't be there
To see the birth of our little girl
I hope she looks like you I hope she fights like me
Stand up for the innocent and the weak

I'm laying down my gun
I'm hanging up my boots
Tell Dad I don't regret that I followed in his shoes

So lay me down
In that open field on the edge of town
And know my soul
Is where my momma always prayed
That it would go
And if you're reading this
I'm already home

God bless America.

Number 10

From baseball heaven...St. Louis, Missouri

May 11, 2012 was Tony La Russa's night at Busch Stadium.

Tony's #10 jersey number was retired by the Club for all time and was etched on the left field wall alongside the one name icons of Cardinal lore: #1 Ozzie, #2 Red, #6 Stan, #9 Enos, #14 Kenny, #17 Dizzy, #20 Lou, #24 Whitey, #42 Bruce, #45 Gibby, and #85 Gussie. Now Tony has joined this elite club. The pantheon of Cardinal baseball. The "tall cotton" of Cardinal history just got a little taller with Tony's addition.

It was a fitting tribute to a spectacular winning run for LaRussa's 16 years as the Redbird skipper. .544 winning record. 2,591 games. 1,408 victories. 8 NL Central Division Titles. 3 NL Pennants. 2 World Series Championships. 9 out of 16 years postseason appearances. Winningest manager in Cardinal history.

So, take a deserved bow TLR. This Bud's for you.

Thanks for a lifetime of memories.

The Colossal Reality

The 'Avenue of State Flags' entrance to Mount Rushmore

The workers who built Mount Rushmore

The Colossal Reality of Mount Rushmore

America is still the greatest country on the planet no matter what the liberal media espouses and our Obama government atones. Want proof? Make a pilgrimage to Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota and re-kindle your love for this country.

Four of the greatest Presidents in US History are carved into 60 foot high granite faces on Mount Rushmore. From left to right, George Washington, Father of our Country, Thomas Jefferson, Author of the Declaration of Independence, Teddy Roosevelt, the Conservationist, and Abraham Lincoln, the Emancipator, all peer pensively to the Southeast as the sun and shadows darts across their regal weathered countenances. It is one of the most compelling blendings of art and nature in the world. Powerful. Strong. Patriotic. Uniquely American.

Washington has the most prominent position on the granite face...as it should be. The Appointed commander of the Continental Army in 1775 molded and led a fighting force that won independence from Great Britain. He helped guide the deliberations to form a government that has now lasted over 200 years. He was our first elected President in 1789.

Jefferson's image to Washington's left with head tilted slightly to the right occupies a space on the granite face only suitable for such a great man. Besides being the author of the Declaration of Independence, "We the people...", he also was a philosopher, architect, musician, book collector, scientist, horticulturist, diplomat, inventor and the third President of the United States. He also had the foresight to purchase the vast Louisiana territory which doubled the land mass of the young republic.

Roosevelt's image to Jefferson's left is slightly tucked into a flaky depression in the rock face and which proved to be the hardest carving on the face. Once they found solid rock the artist/sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, fashioned Roosevelt's famous "pinc-nez" spectacles out of the rock. Energetic, positive and extremely self-confident, Roosevelt was a man of action. He fathered the National Park Service which preserved 234 million acres of land for conservation. He also influenced the construction of the Panama Canal which made the United States a world power. He was elected our 26th President of the United States.

Lincoln's image to Roosevelt's left is set deep into rock with eyes even deeper set. Lincoln, elected as our 16th President of the United States, helped to preserve the Union during the Civil War. After four bloody years of war with the Confederate States of America, Lincoln in 1865 accepted General Robert E. Lee's surrender thus preserving the Union and abolished slavery in the United States.

Some facts about the monument: 1927-1941 were the blasting/drilling/carving years of the faces, 400 workers were employed, total cost was $989,992.32, Washington's nose is 21 feet long, each eye is 11 feet wide, no workers died in 14 years of hanging off the edge of the world in bosun's chairs and 3 million people from around the world visit Mount Rushmore annually.

Knowing that Mount Rushmore is virtually in the middle of nowhere should not dissuade you from seeing such a "colossal reality." If the Japanese, the Chinese and the Europeans make the trip, you can too.

Go, you'll feel better about being an American again.

The FINAL Graduate!

William Costigan Corrigan Class of 2012

17 years of education started in Cleveland, Ohio in 1993 with kindergarten and first and second grades at Gesu. Six years of Santa Catalina parochial school in Monterey, California. Followed by four years of York High School in Monterey. Topped off with four final years in Denver, Colorado. What a journey it has been for our youngest of four, William Costigan Corrigan, affectionately known as Will.

This past weekend, Will, graduated from Regis University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psycology. It was not easy but school and life are not meant to be easy.

Throughout all the ups and downs of Will's education over these last 17 years, Will achieved his ultimate goal of receiving a University diploma. A diploma that will always signify a major accomplishment in Will's young life and something that can never be taken away from him. He earned it. It's his rightful claim. It's his for life. Major kudos to Will for his superior efforts, diligence and seriousness of purpose during these years. It was so worth it all!

Many years ago, while my Dad was still alive, I asked him, "Dad, what is your greatest accomplishment as a father?" Without hesitation, he said, "...providing an education for all of you kids (there were eight of us)." At that time, we were newly married and his answer stunned me a bit. I was expecting something else.

My Dad was a successful man in most facets of his life. He chose to define himself not by business achievements but by an intensely personal achievement, that is, providing an education for his kids. You see, for my Dad, education coupled with a strong faith, work ethic and family were the keys to life. He also said, "if I could not provide an education for my kids, I would be a failure in my own eyes."

During Will's graduation weekend, I thought alot about my Dad and his simple yet profound take on life. Education. Faith. Work. Family. That instruction rubbed off on my wife and me. We were committed to educating our own in the same manner our parents provided for us. In deepest gratitude we thank the good Lord, His many blessings showered upon us over the years to help us and guide us with educating all of our kids.

So, Will represents the end of the line for that phase of his life and our lives as providers, supporters, part-time sheriffs and counselors. To say we are happy that our youngest has graduated from college is an understatement of epic proportions. The joy of seeing all of our kids as University graduates is most gratifying and life-giving and supersedes everything in importance to date.

As some old wise man said, "the older I get the smarter my father becomes". My Dad was right again...this time about educating one's own.

Final cheers to Will. So proud of Will. You made yourself proud!! Enjoy the ride of living fully for the rest of your life.

Also, thanks to my Dad for leading by example.