So I took the harp on the plane with me, in its bright green case made by another harp friend in Seattle. On the day that I met with Aimee she was staying with her Dad while on holiday in the wilds of West Cork (my favorite corner of Ireland!). I arrived at the house with the harp case slung over my shoulder, and Aimee didn't bat an eye because she is so used to seeing me travelling with a harp. So we sat down in the backyard overlooking rolling meadows and pastures going down to the sea to have a cup of tea. "Yesterday was Dad's birthday", Aimee told me. I took that opportunity to say "Oh Pete, I didn't know about your birthday, so I didn't bring you a present, but I DID bring Aimee a present! Shall I bring it out now?" So I went in the house and brought out the bright green harp case with bows and a card on it and placed it on the ground beside Aimee's chair and said "I believe this has your name on it". Aimee knelt beside the case for several silent moments as she undid the ribbons and read the card. Still not speaking, she opened up the harp case, and then lifted out the beautiful mahogany and spruce harp and placed it on her lap as she sat in her chair. And then she finally spoke these words.. "Oh, my dream come true!!! My own little harp!"

But wait, the story doesn't end there! Aimee and her two older sisters (who are adults in their early 30's) brought her to Seattle a month later. I called the harp maker (who prefers to remain anonymous), and told him that Aimee's family had sent a thank you present, and asked if I could bring it over with her oldest sister who had driven up from Portland, Oregon. Well, we assembled on his front porch, and as the door was halfway open I knocked on it and he called from inside for us to come on in. We entered in single file and after I hugged him I introduced the others.. "This is Julie, Aimee's sister from Portland, and this is Rachel, Aimee's other sister". George looked puzzled and said, "But don't you live in Dublin, are you here visiting?" "Yes" answered Rachel, and then I introduced the handsome fellows that followed her in "This is Bill, Julie's partner, and Christopher, my partner". In that moment Aimee stepped out from behind Christopher and I said "And here's someone who would like to say THANK YOU!" George was dumbfounded with surprise as Aimee stepped forward and presented him with a painting she had done of herself with her new harp.

Having played the harp for almost 9 years now myself, and becoming familiar with the deep magic of it, it is my belief that the spirit of the Celtic Harp was longing for Aimee to have a harp as much as she was longing to have one, and that this spirit found a way for Aimee to have a harp. The harp maker and I were simply servants of an intelligence and beneficence beyond ourselves, and were priviledged to be a part of the process that finally brought Aimee and her beloved harp together.