You've Got A Friend

The Internet is fascinating and frightening at the same time. It allows us access to nearly everything and allows nearly everyone access to us. That is how SMUG found the YesterUkes.

A few months back, a gentleman on Prince Edward Island, Canada, was browsing the Internet, hoping to read about ukulele bands similar to the one he had just started. In searching, he came across our blog. He emailed, telling us that he had enjoyed reading about our group. Some of the YesterUkes responded, and in short order, we had friends in far away Canada. We discovered we had much in common. SMUG (Saturday Morning Ukulele Group) is a group of folks who have fun getting together to play ukuleles. That could also describe the YesterUkes.

The YesterUkes started (if you count the beginner class) two years ago, so we have had time to develop into a performing band. But, at the core, we are still a group of folks who have fun getting together to play ukuleles. It's just that now we have an audience much of the time. We're happy to have another group to share ideas with and maybe swap a song or two.

The YesterUkes in South Carolina got a huge boost at their start from Dr. Uke, leader of the Glastonbury Ukulele Band in Connecticut. We hope that we can give a little support and encouragement to SMUG on Prince Edward Island. Bet it won't be long until they find a ukulele group somewhere else on the globe that needs a friend! And we'll all be ukulele friends across the miles.

You Make Me Feel So Young

After the program, seemed like everyone had a comment or a question:

• "I really enjoyed that racket!"
  
• "Please some back soon 'cause you didn't sing my favorite song."
  
• "You sang my favorite song!"
  
• "Did you know Marilyn Monroe played that song in 'Some Like It Hot'?"
  
• "What's the average age of your members?" (Not sure--probably somewhere in the early 70s.)
  
• "I learned all these songs from my parents."
• "How long does it take someone to learn enough to play with you?" (Not long.)
  
• "Why haven't you been on television?" ('Cause no one has asked us yet.)
  
• "Do you have change for a $20?" (Of course! And then we sold him a CD.)
• "Let me tell you about this song and what happened when I was in 5th grade."
• "I'm a nurse and I think this is good therapy for these people." (Players or listeners?)
• "Do you know the Kate Smith song, 'When The Moon Comes Over The Mountain' ?" (No, but we know a lot of other moon songs.)
• "I got a ukulele for Christmas one year when I was little."
• "That morning TV show has musicians on all the time. But they're not professional, like you."
• "That was just delightful!"
• "I'm SO glad my husband and I came today."

The senior adult audience today at Covenant Presbyterian Church may have been the most involved we've had. No one was in a hurry to leave after lunch. As the sound equipment was being packed, folks lingered, talking with each other, asking questions and telling stories about the songs we sang today. Song sheets are often discarded after a program. Today there were only a couple left behind on the tables.

Once again, the YesterUkes did what they do best with their ukuleles and their music...conjure up smiles and memories.

Dear Hearts And Gentle People

Laurens County honored some of it's finest last night, when most of the 193 volunteers with Hospice of Laurens County gathered for their annual dinner.  It was a privilige for the YesterUkes to entertain these gentle people who, with their dear hearts, make our lives better.  We even have three of our own YesterUkes who also are Hospice volunteers, and some of us have been on the receiving end of their care and compassion.  Hospice provides care and support -- physical, emotional, social, financial, and spiritual -- for patients and families dealing with a terminal illness.  But last night was all about the volunteers and their dedication.

The YesterUkes had fun singing old songs and newer songs (still about 50 years old!), asking the group to sing along with them.  They had surprises in store, breaking out a couple of crowd pleasers--The Lion Sleeps Tonight and Rawhide.  Those songs always get cheers from any audience.  Could it be that both are unexpected choices for a ukulele band?  Whatever the reason, people loved it!

Thank you to all Hospice of Laurens County volunteers, who gladly give of your time to bring comfort and peace to so many in our community.  

Ain't She Sweet?

Our group, the YesterUkes, is as much about friendships we have developed as about the music we love to play. Lately, we've had several of our players out with an assortment of ailments. That saying, "old age isn't for sissies", has a certain amount of truth to it. So, today we were delighted to have one of our uke players and her spouse back at practice. We hope the others are on the mend and will be back soon.

We did talk today about the possibility of a "hospital hootenanny" after one player has knee surgery in a few weeks. Wonder if it would help the healing or only get us all thrown out of the building? And probably banned forever. But research has shown that music is theraputic. We will manage some way to send a musical greeting, without a doubt.

After all the hugs, greetings and visiting, it was time to get down to business and work on songs for next week--a large dinner program for volunteers. "Work" may be the wrong word because for us, it's "play"!