Who is she? When and where was she? What was the tune? Was this a contest? We may never know, but certainly she is lovely and her uniform does her perfect justice.

I played for Jack’s celebration of life recently. Several generations of his family and many friends attended to pay tribute and express their love. He was very dear to his family and it was a sentimental day. Jack’s golfing friends were there and spoke of him with great fondness.

Jack was stationed at the Presidio in San Francisco during the years after WWII and was a piper for the 6th Army Pipe Band. It is always a special honor for me to perform in memory of such a man. Thanks to his son, Mark for these photos and blessings to his wonderful family.

 Hap was a pioneering spirit. She learned to fly WWII trainers hoping to be a WASP, one of the women who flew stateside. After the war, she toured Scotland on a bicycle, staying at youth hostels. My own mother did the same thing at about the same time. These women may very well have met. Hap documented the trip on the same official youth hostel map my mom passed on to me. Hap framed her map, placed her photos around her route to illustrate the experience, and wrote a book about it. She skied, wrote, played viola, started a new career (technical writing) late in life, and nursed California jays back to health. Would that we all could live so well and fully. She clearly did a great job of raising her children, too. Thank you to her son Brooks, Sharon, his wife, daughter Kate, and grandson Jason (in his kilt at the service) for your kindness. Blessings to all.