In Search of a Bumper Sticker

Ok sorry, I can't help myself. I'm in that early stage of infatuation when everything is exciting and surely everyone in the world must be interested in hearing about my new found love. Do you remember those days when everything in your life revolved around some cute girl or guy? Luckily for me, even my amazing wife of 25 years seems perfectly willing to let this latest hobby play out. She has seen them come and go over the years, but I'm thinking this latest pastime is going to stick...or at least get sticky.

I've always been fascinated with bees. I remember playing little league baseball as a kid...out in right field where I could do the least amount of damage. I'd stand what seemed like miles away from the action in huge fields of grass mixed with clover...and honeybees. Running, stomping or panic never occurred to me. I would often catch them by hand (I have never claimed to be that bright). But after a few stings, a jar worked just fine. I remember once wondering off the field, trying to follow one home, only to be reminded by my coach that a game was still going on! Bees have always been a pleasant distraction. Thirty years later, I finally have the land, the money and the time to devote to these amazing teachers.

WHY BEES? I get asked this constantly. I do know exactly why, but I don't have the short, "bumper sticker answer" formulated in my head to tell people just yet. Here are the big 3 reasons:

1) My life is way too hurried. Not always busy, but almost always hurried. Bees, on the other hand, are almost always getting things accomplished, but are never hurried. I want that in my life! I believe bees will teach me the secret to life without hurry. (Bumper Sticker?)
2) I'm a teacher...not by training...not by occupation...not really by choice. I simply find myself running across groups of people who are interested in what I have to say (or can think of nothing else better to do) and I teach them about this or that. But who teaches the teacher? I believe my bees have a lifetime of lessons for me, my family, my students and anyone else who might listen (or read).
3) I'm not a big honey eater. I like it fine. Love it on sopapillas. One of the biggest problems (or blessings) of raising bees is that they produce honey...60-70 pounds of honey per hive per year! I have no interest in selling it, but my hope is that a free jar of honey here and there will open a few doors that will allow The Tao of Bees to be told over and over.

Love their honey...Live their wisdom

(Hey, not bad!)