Fellow Bee Keepers,
 
    My friend and fellow bee keeper passed away. Irwin Myers was 88 years old
when he went to be with the Lord. Not many folks would know him because he was
neither wealthy nor famous but even so the loss is great. In recent years he
became too weak and frail to maintain and care for bees. My neighbor told me of
his plight so I set up a hive near his house where he could enjoy watching the
bees come and go. Often, when I went to tend the hive, we would sit under a
tree a few feet away and watch the bees and reminisce. We spent many hours
enjoying these marvelous insects and Irwin would share his experiences with
the bees. He spoke of the times they would move their hives at night with a
horse drawn wagon and many other stories to numerous to tell. Yes, I will
miss this old man but that is not the reason I write. Sometimes we are so
involved in trying to find the perfect honey bee, one that is not only mite
resistant but produces hundreds of pounds of honey, that we have little time
to pass down to beginners the gems that we have found along lifes travels.
Irwin took the time to add a little seasoning to this bee keepers life. I would
encourage each of you, if given such an opportunity and honor, to enrich
another life by giving of your bee keeping experiences much the same way
Irwin Myers has done for me. I believe that he has gone to Heaven where the
bees are as gentle as kittens and produce more honey than one can imagine.
Someday we will once again sit under a tree and watch these marvelous insects
gather pollen and nectar.
 
Ron Harriger
100 Rhoades St.
Cambridge Springs Pa. 16403