OK. Pinch me. When I wake up will I still be Third Place Winner at Mountain Laurel 2013?
I went in the room to draw numbers at 7.20 and my heart sank. Cindy Harris, Cathy Britell, Doug Pratt, Bonnie Phipps, Tom Fladmark, Michael Poole, Drew Smith, Robert Grappell, Kim Goodhue, Vicky Lehman and Muriel Powers - who had done an amazing set in the Open Stage - amongst the 16 competitors. Some of the giants of the Autoharp were in this competition, and very few were missing. So what did I expect? I knew it would be like this. Sixteen competitors, I drew number 8. Come my time, I started with Dylan's Dopvals and messed up the start. Got through it only OK. Also messed the start of Fields of Gold, but it was marginally better than OK, I knew I had a good arrangement and it worked well. But after the first round, I had myself 7th or 8th. So did Holly.
But, to my amazement, my number was called for the second round. My jaw was on the floor, I could not believe it. But I got to play again. So I went for it. And I have only just realised I actually played Great Uncle Henry in the wrong key! I played in D when I had practiced in G!! But, I went for it, and it worked. Then Albatross - I was in the zone, eyes closed and the music was just pouring out of me. I knew I stood a chance. But not against Cindy, or Bonnie Phipps. Cindy's pieces were majestic, rhythmical and lyrical. Bonnie's pieces were just out of this world. She took Autoharp playing to a whole new level, I have never heard anything as musical on an Autoharp, and we all knew who the winner was after the last piece she played. But, in the opinion of the judges, I beat Drew Smith, and Tom Fladmark in the final of Mountain Laurel 2013.
Now how do I get four harps home?
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