From the Top

Everyone asks us how in the world McKay and I met if his family was in England and I grew up in Michigan.  The short answer we usually give is that it was an arranged marriage by his mother, (which is not that far from the truth), however the real answer is because of the harp.  While studying the harp in Paris, I decided to go to a harp competition in Wales, which I mentioned to someone at church.  This someone, our friend from Singapore, hooked us up with McKay's mom.  McKay's mom then invited us to stay with her and even decided to enter her harpist daughter, Clarissa, into the competition.  

When I stepped off the train from France to England, after living in France for almost a year, the warm embrace and shrieking squeals coming from my future mother-in-law, (a perfect stranger to me at the time), made me feel right at home.  I would have married her son right then and there!  I was so excited to be surrounded by English-speaking, smiling, and yes, loud Americans.  (Can you tell I was a little homesick!)

Clarissa and I, along with both our mothers, rented a small mobile home up in Caernarvon, Wales, where the competition was, and had an absolute ball together.  We cooked meals together, attended harp classes, concerts and competitions, travelled to all the Welsh castles and talked late into the night.  It was the best girl's sleepover that I had ever been to.  During one of those late night girl talks, McKay's mom hinted to me that she wanted me to meet her son, who was at the Air Force Academy.  I told her that I would love to.  However, later in the week, while atop the last Welsh castles we visited, she made her real intentions known to my mother - Clarissa and I were off on our own, running up and down spiral staircases - she declared to my mom that she thought I was the girl for McKay and that we should get married.  As you can imagine, my mom was a little taken aback, but in later conversations admits that she thought McKay's mom was right.

That story really started from the top, which now leads me into the real topic of this post which is From the Top.  As a kid, one of my favorite programs to listen to on the radio (golly, that makes me sound so old!) was a show called From the Top.  The program features young, talented musicians from all over the US.  After performing a piece, they interview the kids about anything, from practice, to future dreams, to wearing mismatched socks, to family matters.  From these simple, yet entertaining interviews, they create personable, down to earth roll models for kids everywhere.  Many alums of the show go on to become great musicians, but many others go on to have successful careers as doctors, lawyers, and other professions.  

From the Top inspired me so much, and in many ways was the reason that I wanted to major in Harp Performance.  When my sister-in-law, Clarissa, was chosen to participate on From the Top, I was jumping out of my skin with excitement.  The even greater joy came when I was asked to accompany her to Texas for the taping, while her parents were on a cruise.  I never thought I would get to see a live From the Top show.  What a dream!  Thanks Clarissa for making a long time dream come true.  

Each of the young musicians came from military families, as the military was the focus of the show.  General Dempsey even came on the show and sang a little number,

and then he listened to all the featured musicians.

The show is distributed by NPR (National Public Radio) to almost 250 public radio stations throughout the US, reaching more than 700,000 loyal listeners each week.  No pressure, right?

While I was up there, I told General Dempsey that my husband is in the Air Force, to which he then handed me his military coin.  Military coins are usually given to groups of military members, however when you become one of the bigwigs, you get your own personal coin for your position.  General Dempsey is Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, so lets just put it this way, if McKay were to display his coins in his office one day, this one would be in the center.  The only one that would be better than this one, would be a military coin from the President of the United States.  Awesome - I think so! 

Professional pianist, Christopher O'Riley, hosts the show and is also the phenomenal accompanist for the young featured guests.  

This was the military band featured.

The experience was incredible for Clarissa, and for me as well.  By the end, my heart was just bursting with pride as I saw the little girl I met in Wales, now all grown up and accomplished in every way.  Congratulations Clarissa and fantastic playing!  I look forward to hearing you play in many more concerts and maybe even on the radio again!