That’s D-A-L-L-A-S

Karthik Nemmani outlasted all competitors, dramatically winning the Scripps National Spelling Bee yesterday. Competitor Naysa Modi bowed out when she misspelled “Bewusstseinslage.” (Definition: a state of consciousness.)

Nemmani sealed the victory with his winning word, “koinonia,” which means communion or Christian fellowship. Prior to this win, Modi had actually done better in competitions leading to the National Spelling Bee, but anything can and does happen in the big show.

Nemmani and Modi are both from the Dallas area, long a hotbed of spelling titans. This became apparent when I visited recently to see why.

I stopped in a convenience store to get a bottle of water. I asked the clerk if they carried Glaceau Smart Water. “Uh, can you repeat the word?” he asked.

“Sure, it is Glaceau.”

“What is the background of the word?

“Glaceau is a bottled water product offered by Energy Brands, a subsidiary of Coca Cola.”

“Hmmm. I see. What is the meaning of the word.”

“Glaceau is a French word meaning overpriced water that comes out of the tap.”

“OK, can you use it in a sentence?” he said. He held his chin in his hand, his face twisted in thought.

“I went to the convenience store to get a bottle of Glaceau Smart Water,” I said.

“OK. OK.” He looked down at the ground. “Glaceau. G-L-A-C-E…..A……U!”

“That’s it!” I said. “Give me one of those!”

“Sorry, we don’t have that brand.”