Guest post by Alexis Leona
On the last night of Hanukkah, it was beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Historic Joy Kogawa House. The home was trimmed in white holiday lights and candles flickered in the windows. In the front garden, a firepit glowed beneath a large canopy. Guests enjoyed mulled apple cider, cookies, fresh oranges, and savoury snacks. Fifteen ukulele enthusiasts gathered around the fire to strum, ring bells, and sing holiday favourites. Passersby, adults and children, watched with wonder and stopped to listen for a while.
The ukulele players cherished time together to sing rounds and harmonies otherwise silenced on Zoom, like Happy Xmas (War Is Over), Silver Bells, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Liet sang Silent Night in German. Craig tackled Fairytale of New York by The Pogues in all of its medium tempo 6/8 glory. Alexis stumbled through the talky bits of Wham’s Last Christmas, to the chagrin of Kathy. Fortunately, Kathy is still in the running for Whamageddon. Thanks to Rule #3, covers don’t qualify.
During a break, the players enjoyed a guided tour of the historic property, home of award-winning author Joy Kogawa. They admired artifacts from the author’s internment experience, with other Japanese Canadians, during the Second World War. Kathy and Alexis tickled the keys of the antique piano and played Lightly Row from Suzuki Piano School, Vol 1 (an ode to fellow ukulele player, Boaz).
To close out the night, Carol sang a heartwarming solo of Auld Lang Syne to ring in the new year and Edwin enjoyed his first s’more. Here’s to more strumming at the Historic Joy Kogawa House in 2022. Come join us. The fire is warm and ukulele players of all levels are welcome.
Alexis Leona was writer-in-residence at the Historic Joy Kogawa House in July 2021. She is writing a children’s novel about her experience raising a guide dog. Alexis shares her love of music by gathering her fellow ukulele players to strum in the garden monthly.