I had a very good experience recently.

I have been learning the pipes for a year now and I have a couple tunes under my belt and a lot of ambition. God how I love that thing!

My best friend from high school, (a retired Commander, an architect and a historian of classical antiquity), was in the country for the memorial service for his mother. His surname is King. Her maiden name was McKay. He and I are quite proud of our Scottish blood and made a lot of it forty years ago as teens. It was at Mrs. King's piano that I discovered that I could figure out tunes. Following that I taught myself banjo, guitar, violin and have had a very rich life because of that start.

My friend the Commander called me up and told me of the memorial service hoping that my wife and I could come. I said yes! We could not miss that. It was only a bit over an hour drive to get there. I had to rearrange my work schedule but for him, for them, no question I would do it if at all possible.

After talking with him I had one of those ideas that could pass undisturbed or could be seized upon as potentially great.

I called him back and told him that I'd been learning to play the pipes and that I would be honored to play Amazing Grace at his mother's service. I did not want to co-opt the program but I didn't want to be talking with him in ten years and regret not doing this for his family. He told me he would discuss it with his siblings. He called me back shortly afterward and said that they all thought it was a great idea.



I played at the end of the service. Amazing Grace was one of the hymns we had sung. It was very effective and greatly appreciated. He did not know it was my first public performance.

I am really happy to have given that to them. They are really happy to have had a kilted piper at mum's do. So glad to have done it. And, incidentally, I am now their family - King - piper. I am the Kings' piper.