Plain Talk: Christmas Day Stories (263)
On Christmas Day, Jim Tew steps away from technical beekeeping talk to share personal stories, reflections, and memories shaped by family, work, and a lifetime of making things by hand.
In this Christmas Day Plain Talk episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew offers listeners something intentionally different. Rather than focusing on hive management or seasonal techniques, Jim invites listeners into a reflective conversation shaped by memory, family, and the passage of time.
Jim begins by acknowledging that Christmas has never been a strongly beekeeping-centered season for him. From there, he shares a formative story from early in his beekeeping life—one that begins with his passion for woodworking and building his own beekeeping equipment and ends with a Christmas Day epiphany. Surrounded by stacks of partially built frames and running a saw while his family gathered inside, Jim realized something important had been lost. That moment marked a turning point, changing how he balanced making things with simply being present.
The episode weaves through additional Christmas memories, including childhood disappointments, restored gifts that went unappreciated at the time, and the slow understanding that comes with age. Jim reflects on his father’s quiet sacrifices, the meaning of reuse and repair, and how perspective reshapes memories long after the wrapping paper is gone.
Jim also shares a humorous and thoughtful story about his childhood realization that Santa Claus might not arrive the way he imagined, marking another moment of growing up without spoiling the magic for others. He closes by reminding listeners that not every Christmas needs to be perfect to be meaningful, offering gratitude for shared stories, past experiences, and the opportunity to simply talk together—one more time.
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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com
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Honey Bee Obscura is brought to you by Growing Planet Media, LLC, the home of Beekeeping Today Podcast.
Music: Heart & Soul by Gyom, All We Know by Midway Music; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; original guitar music by Jeffrey Ott
Cartoons by: John Martin (Beezwax Comics)
Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC
Merry Christmas! Santa's a bit behind this morning, check back shortly!
