Confessions of a Ukeaholic

My name is Sandra (aka Kanela) and I am a Ukeaholic. I'm not a very good one yet, but I am good at finger-synching (similar to lip-synching, but with more moveable parts involved). 

My love for the ukulele began when I lived in Hawaii and often went to Don Ho's nightclub in the International Marketplace. As you can see from this picture, Don and I were good hoalohas (meaning friends or beloved companions - you can form your own conclusion. Just keep in mind my humorous writing is usually 95% fiction and 5% fact). 

Fast forward a few years (perhaps 50 or more) and you will find me strumming with a fun group called The Ukeaholics. Depending on the weather, we either meet in a library or in a park every Thursday for two hours. Wine is often involved which makes me sound better, at least in my own mind! 

We often perform at assisted living facilities for the residents. Two of our most requested songs are Sweet Caroline and Beer Barrel Polka. Go figure! Our repertoire is quite extensive and varied. My personal favorite is Pearly Shells. Good friend, Don, taught me how to sing the chorus in Hawaiian. Perhaps someday I'll be brave enough to sing it in public. 

I've made a June Resolution to practice playing my ukulele more. I want to be good enough to play in my son-in-law's band, consisting of Brandon playing any stringed instrument and seven year old granddaughter, Eliza, on vocals. Eliza named the group The Flying Cupcakes! My favorite daughter, Jessica, is in charge of PR and the designing and selling of merch. 

Well, time to go practice. My two songs for this week chosen by The Ukeaholics leader extraordinaire, Peggy, are Plastic Jesus and The Wayward Wind. Paul Newman actually sings Plastic Jesus in Cool Hand Luke.

Before I leave you, if you ever meet me in person, ask me why The Ukeaholics have designated Knock Three Times to be my song. I'll try to explain without blushing.

In conclusion, I'll leave you with a George Bernard Shaw quote, often used by Peggy: We don't stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing. 

My Call To Action for you is to play more and comment below about how you played more. The funniest G-rated idea wins freedom from menehune tricks "played" on them.

Sandra Warholic Seeley - All my life, and half of someone else's, I have lived in a humorous place called Earth. My muse is a tiny menehune from the island of Oahu in Hawaii where I lived for a year. Ernest Hemingway once sat under the exact same coconut tree where I did most of my writing. I'm also a sensitive to criticism Virgo who loves to get paid for writing and speaking funny stuff. Even though my mind is filled with volcanic ash residue and I'm still finding sand in my shorts, I will continue to write until my muse retires or I run out of pretty blue drinks, whichever comes first. Don't be bashful, email the author.