Harvey Yaw, Bagpiper For All Occasions

We could hear the bleating of “Amazing Grace” as we stepped out our front door, so I didn’t expect he’s still be playing by the time we got down to the beach and up The Path to the Ritz Carlton.

harvey-the-bagpiper3

Good thing Harvey has such a large repertoire.

harvey-the-bagpiper5

Harvey is as much a treat to watch as he is to hear. He’s got the full deal going on. And in the luxury of sitting in the sunshine, toes tapping to Harvey’s jigs and hymns, soaking in as much of both as I could, I started to have a few questions.

For instance, we hear this man fairly often from the balcony of our little pied a terre, when the wind is blowing the right direction.  It’s delightful, and when that happens I bless him, wondering what his name is.

harvey-the-bagpiper8

The pipes themselves were spectacular. Does the Celtic-looking silver work have any clan significance?

harvey-the-bagpiper6

Is that a ceremonial dagger? Do they keep it on hand in case the bladder for the pipes gets stuck on full throttle, like a car alarm that you can’t shut off?

What’s the deal on the tabs? Does it help them avoid the embarrassment of getting caught with their socks inside out?

And where do you buy shoes like that? Is there a secret “Hobbits ‘R’ Us” store somewhere, maybe hiding in plain sight?

harvey-the-bagpiper11

Which lead (naturally) to “I wonder what he’s got in his pocketsies?”

When he stopped playing, Rick went up to give him our “rickandkathy” calling card and let him know he’d be showing up on our blog in the next day or two.  And that’s when not one but two mysteries were solved.

He unsnapped his furry pouch thingy and withdrew…

harvey-the-bagpiper9

… his business card.

harvey-the-bagpiper10

Turns out Harvey W. Yaw is a Bagpiper for all Occasions.

harvey-the-bagpiper13

I’m not sure what the exact occasion was yesterday, but for us, the event was a beautiful early evening in April on the cliffs of Pelican Point, with Harvey.


If you enjoyed this post, share it with your friends! Click the “Share It” button just below, select your social media community of choice… and… doink! You’re the instant sharer of enjoyable stuff. People like that.

4 thoughts on “Harvey Yaw, Bagpiper For All Occasions

  1. Sandi Fentiman

    Gaelic or Celtic? There is a castle in Scotland of a piper’s ghost still patrolling the castle’s shoreline, and playing his bagpipes. The story has it that he would play his usual tunes for his lord and lady’s entertainment. But he quickly changed to a “warning” song if he saw an enemy ship out at see and heading his way. This one time, the enemy realized what he was doing and the frontal assault came in very quickly and captured him. After the castle was over run, he was tortured and killed. The legend says that he was not buried with the proper Catholic rituals in those days and that’s why he never “passed over”, being a very devout Catholic. A number of groups have tried to help him rest, but they weren’t successful and he still plays his bagpipes. And they let him; he’s not doing any harm to anyone and still loyal to the castle and the occupants.

    A rather “wild” tale, but how would you explain the strange sounds and goings on where no electronic trickery could reach?!

  2. keith

    Love this post…just make sure you don’t mention pipes and kilts in the same paragraph!

    1. rickandkathy

      Keith, how did I KNOW you’d chime in on this one? To be honest, I thought it would be more along the lines of “So… what DO they wear under the kilt? (“underkilled” from Victoria’ Secret, in case you’re wondering…) but Dude… you never disappoint. Love youse.

Comments are closed.