The Beekeeper and Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Sharing a picnic lunch on the grass in a shady spot behind the Whatcom Museum of History and Art was the perfect transition for me. Having just finished a brisk 3.06-mile walk in the bright sunshine down the Bay to Baker Trail to the beach at Little Squalicum Park, and then back again, we felt refreshed, rested and refueled as we entered the Rotunda Room for Tom Hodge's ukulele concert.

During the walk, the backyard beekeeper along the trail was suited up and tending his bee hives as we passed. Having seen my father in his beekeeper's suit so many times as a child, my mind pulled up a memory of the hum the extractor motor made as it sat in the middle of our kitchen floor as the honey was being extracted from the hives each year - and of how it sometimes felt like we ate honey for breakfast, lunch and dinner.Posing for photos, our backyard beekeeper chatted happily with us about his bees. He told of having recently gained a new hive of bees as friends had called him with news of a swarm of bees that he could come and get. He has so many hives in his back yard already, even some up on the flat roof of his shed, that he indicated he was not quite sure yet where he would place this new hive. For now, it sits over by itself, under one of the apple trees in his side yard. Our trail-side beekeeper has a small honey stand from the street side of his yard. Selling tubs of honey, whipped honey and honey comb, he told us that the neighborhood says there is none better than his. I must make a point to get my honey there in the future!

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Referred to by the Museum as "Bellingham's most enthusiastic ukulele player," Tom Hodge shared a little information about the history of the ukulele as he played several of the different instruments he had brought with him today and entertained us with a variety of songs. During his performance, Hodge reflected on the recent loss of Tom Hunter, his friend, fellow musician and a respected pastor within our community as he introduced the song "Today". It was at that point that it became very apparent to me that Hodge, a gifted musician and songwriter himself, has the ability to reach out and touch the hearts of his audience.

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Today

(written by Randy Sparks)

Today, while the blossoms still cling to the vine
I’ll taste your strawberries, I’ll drink your sweet wine
A million tomorrows shall all pass away
'ere I forget all the joy that is mine, today

I’ll be a dandy, and I’ll be a rover
You’ll know who I am by the songs that I sing
I’ll feast at your table, I’ll sleep in your clover
Who cares what the morrow shall bring

Today, while the blossoms still cling to the vine
I’ll taste your strawberries, I’ll drink your sweet wine
A million tomorrows shall all pass away
'ere I forget all the joy that is mine, today

I can’t be contented with yesterday’s glory
I can’t live on promises winter to spring
Today is my moment, now is my story
I’ll laugh and I’ll cry and I’ll sing

Today, while the blossoms still cling to the vine
I’ll taste your strawberries, I’ll drink your sweet wine
A million tomorrows shall all pass away
'ere I forget all the joy that is mine, today

Today, while the blossoms still cling to the vine
I’ll taste your strawberries, I’ll drink your sweet wine
A million tomorrows shall all pass away
'ere I forget all the joy that is mine, today

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More information about Tom Hodge and his music can be found on MySpace at - Tom Hodge - Folk/Lyrical/Acoustic. Included on his MySpace profile is a link to his video of "Ramblin' Rose" as performed on a Lanikai tenor uke. Although this song was not performed for us today, it is one of my all-time favorite songs! Tom Hodge on Lanikai tenor uke playing Ramblin' Rose

Closing today's concert beautifully with, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", I share this video of the song performed by Hawaii's own Israel 'Iz' Kamakawiwo'ole, May 20, 1959 - June 26, 1997.

The lyrics are included, why not sing along?