WEATHERFORD — There aren’t a lot of things inn this old world that get me up on my soapbox. I’m really not a complainer, but there are a few things that grab my attention.

Years ago (I won’t say how many) I won the Spelling Bee held at my school. Then from there I went to the all city Bee in Fort Worth and made it to the finals. I can’t even remember the word that defeated me, but I do know it was one I had never heard before and I don’t think I have heard it since. The experience was a fun one and it instilled in me the need for correct spelling.

It bothers me to no end to be reading a magazine, newspaper or book and find misspelled wurds.

For instance I waz reading a story about a little dawg who had a pet flee who lived on him. This story went on and on about this little flee. At first I thought I was seeing the wrong word, but no, it was about one of those insects known as a flee living on this dawg. I was beside myself that someone could write about this book and misspell the main character’s name as “flee.” I couldn’t finish the artikle because of the spelling.

Another time I saw a headline about a woman who had been elected Queen at some retirement center. The headline read, “Ant Susie” is chosen as Queen. At first I thought that was her name, but then it dawned on me it was a misspelled word and what they really meant was “Aunt.” It goes on and on.

Sunday, at one of the electronic stores, they were advertising a pocket recorder that you could use to “tap” all your bizness meetings. I think they meant to say “tape,” but maybe they were write. Maybe you were supposed to “tap” in each letter as you heard it in a meeting. I can’t see as how that could be very efficient. I would think your attenshion … Wait a minute. I think I just misspelled that word. I’ll just look it up right quick. Hmmm. Yep, here it is. It should be spelled “attention.” See — a dictionery can come in handy.

I recently had the chance to read a paper written by a student. As I read I couldn’t help but notice there were numerous spelling mistakes. I asked her if she wanted me to correct them. Her reply was, “Spelling mistakes? I checked it already. There aren’t any.”

With that, I gave her back her paper and told her it waz reel interesting.

So, please check your dictionary on words your not sure of. It’ll pay off in the long run. Spell check can’t be write all the time.

Now, on to another subject dear to my heart. This is certainly not a pet peeve. As many of you know if you have read my articles over these nine years, I was and am an only child. When I was younger I would go to bed at night and say my prayers and they ended a lot of times with a wish to wake up and have a sister. It never happened.

For the last month or so I have had to deal with something that no one wants to deal with. I hope none of you readers ever has to deal with this subject. Cancer … but this cancer is one that only two out of a million people will have. It is in my left bronchial. I saw five physicians and none of them had seen this type before and didn’t know how to treat it.

This tumor had grown to such a size that I only had a teeny, weeny little space for the air to get through. I was actually suffocating. Then I found a physician in Dallas who was highly recommended and who had actually seen this type of cancer. First he did a bronchostomy to try and open the airway so I could breathe. The tumor was embedded in the side and could not be “lasered” out, but he did manage to chip enough off so that I could breathe a little better. Now I am awaiting meeting with him this Tuesday and he is going to tell me what he thinks he can do to help me. So, here it is Sunday night and I am nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. I don’t know what I will find out and what the outcome will be.

I have had many, many e-mails wishing me good luck and I have been put on many prayer lists which gladdens my heart. But a funny thing happened. I went to bed one night and the next morning I found I had four sisters. These sisters enfolded me with love such as I had never experienced. Willena, Susan, Johnny and Helen have been there for me. They have called, visited me and been there for Jim as we walk down this path. I must admit it is a scary one. To not know what the treatment will be, can he do surgery, can he get all of the cancerous tumor and has it spread? Susan got on the Internet and started looking for any place that knew about “left stemcell carcinoid tumors.” Willena, Johnny and Helen brought in food so Jim could concentrate on helping me. I found out these sisters really cared as much for me as I cared for them.

At long last my wish came true … I woke up and found I had not one, but four sisters. So now I count my family as having two daughters and sons-in law, four grandchildren and four sisters. Family is wonderful.

I also want to thank all of you who have called to wish me luck and I appreciate you more than you will ever know.

Hopefully when I come home from my Dallas visit with the surgeon I will have some good news and there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Until then, I’m still here. I’ll keep on writing my column about the best restaurants in Parker County, talking to some of the best cooks and giving you outstanding recipes for you to cook.

Don’t forget to check your spelling. Spell check on your computer is not always write!

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Janis may be reached at: jks4417@aol.com.