Happy Birthday MoaM!

Last night, close to midnight, it came over me what I had been doing exactly 2 years ago and the excitement of the entire evening. We were wrapping up our CD release party at Planet Hollywood in NYC and getting itchy to go down to buy MOAM when it was released at midnight. I had met some terrific NY Clay fans for the first time that night and we still are in touch. They party was so much fun and our hearts were beating double-time knowing we were only an hour from getting Clay's first album in our hands. The party was chockfull of Clay videos, the sounds of his voice pulling at our hearts while we played Clay-related games and voted on the best impersonators. I remember being in the ladies room while one of the organizers was talking on the cell phone to the radio station where Clay was being interviewed in LA....I had run in to go to the bathroom unsuspectingly while she was on hold. So of course, I had to stay and prayed that she wouldn’t actually be talking to Clay while I was still in the stall. When she got to speak with Clay and we were all dying!!! We had to be quiet because of the bathroom echo and that was nearly impossible so we moved close to the doorway straining to hear the conversation. She then came out to the huge party and gave us a synopsis of what was said. He was very chatty and personable and as excited as we all were. I can't remember now the exact conversation but Clay was very thankful and wished he could have made it to NY in time for the party...how sweet, but of course that was impossible.

I left the party a bit early because my husband was with me, huddled at the corner of the restaurant where other husbands gathered and quizzically watched the goings-on…not sure what was possessing their wives. He had been very patient and, since the noise was giving me a headache, we left to get some air and then went into the Virgin Megastore. I wanted to see if the CD's were out on the shelves yet and see how handsome Clay looked on hundreds of covers. I began chatting with a clerk there. It was so hush-hush, that he wouldn’t take any out ahead of time so that I could see the cover. This fellow was young but very intrigued. I think he was wondering what the big deal was and very interested in all of the hoopla about this release and didn’t understand why there was a party. He was asking how many were expected to show up at midnight. Needless to say, all of the clerks and the few customers were shocked when troops of women came in and formed a line that snaked around the store. I ended up being first on line as it turned out. I was handed the first cd's in NYC (well, at least at the biggest record store in Times Square). I just kept gazing at them and I think I squealed.....I went through the line to say good-bye to those I had met for the first time...the very first real live fellow Clay fans I'd met…I felt a big connection since this was such a momentous occasion in our love for Clay. I hated to leave. But the moment I got in the car....I ripped open one cd and carefully placed the disc in the player and listened to it all of the way home. From that moment on, all I listened to was Clay music...actually, I had been listening to his demos before that night but this was THE ALBUM! While I have enjoyed every minute over these last 2 years and he has blown me away with his concerts, I am so looking forward to a new album and the excitement we all felt 2 years ago today! Clay...bring it on.....