the bees are in the jar
8-28-14
When Lisa got up to “show” the class her Show and Tell we were prepared. We had seen the bees…in the jar…floating in rubbing alcohol. We were fascinated with them being bees and in a jar. The preview spoiler did not extinguish our curiosity.
i have three queen bees in this jar
Really? Not many of us could identify a queen bee. And here Lisa was showing us one suspended in liquid. It, she…three she bees, actually…. was quiet larger than the other ordinary bees. At least the three that she said were queens were larger. Explaining the label of queen bee was “a teachable moment.” But there were no takers. As terrific as the queen bee display was, every kid wanted to know the why, how, and when of this collection.
my dad brought the first bees home
“About three years ago, my dad kinda killed a colony of bees. He scooped up a bunch of bees and brought them home. We put them in alcohol because they won’t disintegrate. My mom put them in jars. I have two more jars at home. She hides them. But I bring them out in Spring….you know, spring bees!”
“But why did you start collecting bees?”
“Because they are interesting, and well, my dad brought them home.”
“if you open the lid would they sting you?”
“Uh, no, they’re dead.”
“That is the weirdest collection I have ever seen!”

Lisa beamed. She enjoys being weird.