Spelling 101

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I respect a man who knows how to
spell a word in more than one way.

~ Mark Twain

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It's no secret I've been known to snap a photo when the moment strikes me.  That moment might involve a perfect stranger, a funny sign or, in this case, a random car.  I apologize if you know this person but as I continue on my path to mom of the year, raising a good speller is very important.  And no, spelt is not the past tense for spell.  That would be spelled.  (sigh)

Perhaps this came from my father.  I remember coming home one day with report card in hand.  I had gotten excellent grades and a 98 percent in spelling.  I was the kid who constantly mixed letters around and worked very hard at spelling correctly.  It wasn't until my second grade teacher that we learned my problem was not my mind but rather my eye sight.  I couldn't see the board he was writing on and thus didn't even know the letters.  Glasses came promptly after this. 

Back to the report card!  I came home and showed my parents.  I seem to remember mom being proud and when I showed dad, what was the first thing he said to me?  It wasn't what I expected. 

"I always got 100% in spelling," he boasted.  

Now, I'm about to let you in on a little secret here I'm not even sure dad knows.  That night, mom could tell I was upset, and I remember her sitting in my room and saying only this one sentence to me.

"Amy, you've seen your father's handwriting.  I doubt that man got 100% in spelling," she said as if we were in a secret club.  I think we even hugged on it.  

So, the importance of correct spelling came at an early age and one I find myself instilling in Madison.  But, we've all seen the cars, the ones where some kid who thinks they are funny draws into the dirt on the car "Wash me" or "Clean me."  Come on, I think we've all done it to our parents and then were shown how to clean the car.  

However, the car in front of me last night on the way home brought me to such a fit of laughter, I had to snap this photo.  I've cropped it to try to protect the innocent (yeah right) and the light turned green as I was taking it, so had to snap this shot quickly!  Forgive me for the fact that it isn't the best.  It was surely this driver's proud parent moment #315!  Written in beautiful handwriting on the back was this..."Clen Me!"  

Now, I'm certainly no mom of the year (yet) but, I doubt that culprit got 98 percent in spelling.  Perhaps my dad can give some pointers!   

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