HAPPY BIRTHDAY — TO ALL OF US!

I want to share a great big THANK YOU to my ukulele group, The CC Strummers, with them and with all of you on my elist. Considering the vagaries of life, everyday is a birthday as far as I’m concerned. For me and for you. But isn’t it extra wonderful to share your “birthday” with the people who mean so much to you?

So Thursday is Halloween and I’m all decked out in my hippy threads because I have to dash to Ghost and Goblin gig after class.

Today is also our our Pick-A-Song Grab Bag. Folks call out their favorites from our CC Strummers songbook and we all play them together beginning with “When I’m 64” then “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “They Call the Wind Maria”…

Suddenly Ray, our big Teddy Bear Ray, barrels though the back door excitedly uttering something about something and giving me the distinct impression it’s a fire drill. Or worse, a fire! Do I hear the police helicopter circling? Do we need to duck under the tables and kiss our asses goodbye? (Hey this is earthquake country…)

But then a big beautiful birthday cake appears at the rear of the room and all of you, The CC Strummers, are singing Happy Birthday to me.

AT THE SAME TIME!!! BY EAR!!! YES!!!!!

I’m already a little disoriented, wearing the black wig and dark glasses and playing dress-up and all that, but now I am just plain stunned… Into momentary silence. You have to know that hardly ever happens.

“Come on Cali, blow out the candles.” So I make my way to the back of room and behold this beautiful cake decorated with swirls of icing, sugary pink roses and TWELVE CANDLES. Only 12? Oh thank you! Forever childlike, yes? We ukulele players know THAT. It takes Janet and Lucy and June a few minutes to slice the decadent carrot cake into pieces for everyone to share so we keep right on playing and singing. Because we can…

The folks in The CC Strummers know that I’m a gluten-free babe. They bring me gluten-free recipes and take-out menus from our local restaurants that feature gluten-free dishes. Breads, cakes, cookies are tricky business for those of us who can’t eat wheat flour, but the marvelous Rising Hearts Bakery is located right in the “heart” of Culver City and every morning they bake the most splendid of everything doughy. “Comfort” made delicious. And this Thursday morning, they also bake my special birthday cake. Can you taste it? In your imagination? You wouldn’t dream in a thousand years that it is wheat-free.

How do you adequately say “thank you” in a situation like this? To people like this? For remembering my birthday in the first place, for stealthily passing the big card around for everyone to sign. How did you do that? It feels like whatever words come out of my mouth, they only brush the surface of the gratitude that I feel.

Every once in a while it is amazing how I, how any of us, get from Point A to Point B in such a surprising and elegant way. You see I am a full-time performer but about 3 1/2 years ago I acted on a “it-came-in-the-middle-of-the-night whim,” to begin teaching ukulele at my local senior center. The very next day, an eight week Beginners Class was inked into the Culver City Senior Center calendar. It happened THAT fast.

There were 15 people in that first class and today we have two huge classes every week. Earlier this year The CC Strummers outgrew our original room and we moved to larger digs across the street.. And new folks keep on coming.

It’s the ukulele. The People’s Instrument. In a world where more and more of us are using electronic gadgets to connect with each other, in our classes, we actually do connect with each other. For real. One song at a time.

Alas, these classes are such a joy for me and because of you, The CC Strummers, I am becoming a better teacher (and student). Because we are all teachers AND beginners… At something.

I am SO lucky to have all of you in my life. Thank You!