I remember really struggling with the harp part I'm working on right now back when I learned it 3 years ago. I practiced and I practiced, and it never felt solid to me until just before I stopped playing. It was the last thing I worked.
I've spent maybe 3 collective hours over on it the past week and it sounds really good. I was surprised that my hands remembered the fingering we worked out. I certainly didn't consciously remember it. Up next the solo from later in the piece (but first food methinks. We've only had a handful of cherries today)