Barb Patrick is one of my “host parents” to a honeybee hive. She has a strong and healthy hive on her property, and this year, we will add another.
The way I met Barb, was through my mom, Betty. They became friends some years ago, and remained steadfast friends until my mom passed in January 2012. Somewhere along the way-I’m not even sure when-Barb and I began to get to know each other better. If you knew my mom, you know that she was a feisty woman. In fact, she could be downright blunt-to the point of rudeness. I say this with complete love in my heart. She was one in a million, and fought a lot of hard battles with grace and dignity in her life. Barb was her friend, through thick and then, through laughs and good times, through card making to raise scholarship money for young women trying to go to college*, through discussions about religion that could get quite heated, and the sharing of tips, strategies and stories about their genealogy work. When one was sick, the other would deliver soup (or muffins, or gingersnaps). I could not imagine losing touch with Barb after mom was gone, and we started meeting up at Starbucks from time to time for coffee. Beekeeping became part of the discussion, one thing led to another, and this is how she became a host parent to a hive.
I like to name my hives, in honor of the queen bee. It seemed fitting that a host parent should name the queen, so this is how it went with Barb. She named her hive Betty. Barb is a vigilant host parent. When a big fat bird was perching herself at the entrance to the hive (which I have never even heard could happen), and picking off bees-one by one-as they left the hive, Barb called and sent pictures. We wrapped the hive in chicken wire, because it was all I could think of to get that bird to move on. The bees did not like it much, but they adapted, like bees do, and they flew through the chicken wire. The bird eventually moved on, and Barb continued to watch and report on changes, progress, and the like. Her nephew Pete and his wife Brenda have also taken up beekeeping in Lower Michigan. So she gets bee talk in a few different places. As of late, I have corresponded with Pete via email, and it will be nice to trade ideas, from a different part of our state, about the trials and tribulations of keeping honeybees.
So what are my lessons in inspiration? Barb inspires me. She is my friend, and she is also my inspiration. Being the modest woman she is, she will not likely be thrilled that she is the subject of this blog post. In fact, she might be downright irritated. However, there some things you need to know about Barb. Did you know that was inducted to the Sports Hall of Fame in 1984 at NMU? She was the coach of the first women’s field hockey team at NMU. And without going into the “old boys’ club” stories, she fought some hard battles and stood up for female athletes, where there was not much support (financially or institutionally) to really develop women’s athletics. Title IX legislation, forty years ago, gave legal backing for Barb and other advocates to work toward equal athletic opportunities and rights for young women at NMU. She was (and is) persistent, focused, passionate, and committed to women’s athletics, and supports young people in their desire to “make it” in life. She lives a thoughtful, purposeful, and full life. Barb probably owns about every tool there is that can do something useful. She has so many tools, that she had to have another storage unit built on her property last year. She is incredibly self-sufficient, and only hires out the work that is just too taxing.
A couple of years ago, I pulled up to her house for a hive check, and saw an extension ladder running up to the second story of her home. There she was, arms above her head, painting under the eaves. I asked her if that wasn’t a little dangerous, and she replied, “It needs to be done!” In Barb, I see so many qualities I admire. I am technically younger than she is in years; however, I rarely think of that. What I see in her, and what I admire/look up to in her are her zest for life, her independence and self-sufficiency. She is a no-nonsense kind of person, who lives her faith with kindness, compassion, integrity, intelligence, and persistence, and follows where her heart has taken her throughout life. I am honored to call her my friend. And she’s a great host mom. My bees are lucky to be there.
*Note: Barb still meets weekly with a group of women who make cards. The proceeds of the card sales go to the Ruth Pond Scholarship fund at Redeemer Lutheran Church. The scholarships go to young college students and to parents who need a scholarship to have their children attend the church’s day care program. Contact me if you would like more information.