Mrs. McKee was also a painter of beautiful landscapes. One day, my mother and I visited her home to purchase a painting. In the quest to find the right one, we entered the living room. There stood an immense gold pedal harp, the first harp I had ever seen. Mrs. McKee played an enchanting melody for us, thereby "planting the seed." Someday I too would play the harp.

After just five years of lessons, my beloved piano teacher and I had a heartbreaking parting when Mrs. McKee moved from rural Missouri to Colorado. I eventually moved to Minnesota. On my thirtieth birthday, I gave myself a gift I had long wanted -- harp lessons. My affinity for this instrument was present from the beginning.

I completed three recordings on a folk harp (a smaller version of the pedal harp.) After each recording was published, I sent a copy to Mrs. McKee. I enjoyed sharing my progress on the instrument we both loved the most!

I longed to own a pedal harp like the gorgeous instrument I had seen in Mrs. McKee's living room. On November 26, 1995, I wrote to her asking if she would ever be interested in selling her harp. Two weeks later, her daughter telephoned me. Mrs. McKee had died the day I wrote my letter, and it had passed into her daughter's hands. "You were my mom's favorite," she told me. "I'm sure she wants you to own the harp."

Two months after Mrs. McKee's death, her beautiful instrument arrived at my door. Mrs. McKee is no longer on earth, but her spirit and presence grace my living room and playing every day. A beautiful gift…a musical and loving journey.