Disclaimer - My mood's not Excited really. It's more nostalgic but that wasn't a choice.

This is such an odd day. Filled with the tremendous excitement of the Clay Press Release. And yet I'm worried about my Dad who is having an operation tomorrow that could be pretty serious. We lost my Mom in 1998 and my Sister in 1999 - so this is hard. But I'm keeping positive thoughts in my head that all will be good . . . and instead I'm going to concentrate on the good news from today!

Isn't it incredible how music touches our souls? I can't carry a note - but I love to sing at full volume when I'm driving. My dh doesn't mind. Another reason to love him.

This is just a free-flowing memory book about music.

I remember when I was pre-teen - one of the great joys was driving home from our country house and listening to the radio. At 8:05 PM on Sunday nights - one of the stations played the complete album of a popular Broadway Show. Now, none of us could sing at all - I'm not sure who was the worst - but we were all really really bad. That stopped none of us. We knew all the lyrics. One of my Dad's and my favorites was "Those Were The Good Ole' Days" from Damn Yankees. How we loved the "hahahahahahah" part - we'd scream with laughter.

I remember my freshmen year in college - I was feeling blue and I would play Donovan's "Catch The Wind" over and over and over again. I was a theater major - so I knew how to be dramatic. I'd sit in the window seat in my dorm room and feel sorry for myself and sing. I think I rather liked that feeling of being miserable, just a bit.

I remember the first time I saw The Beatles on Ed Sullivan and fell in love with George Harrison. And stayed in love with George and am still in love with George. I think sometimes that he and Clay have so many similarities. A gentleness and spirituality - and a snarky sense of humor. Oh, and cheekbones.

I saw Ella Fitzgerald on Broadway just shortly before she died. What an incredible woman. Probably the best voice and vocal interpreter I've ever heard. How I adore her.

I saw Yves Montand at his farewell concert at Lincoln Center. I knew he started as a song and dance man -- but I had no idea how fabulous he was. I loved him as an actor - but he was a showman. Oh, my that was a concert to remember.

Charles Aznavour used to do a midnight concert around Christmas time - it was my present to my sister so many years. I saw his farewell concert on Broadway too. Went this time with my dh, my wonderful girlfriend and her husband and their 3 children and their husbands and wives. So many people have mentioned wanting to hear Clay sing "She". They know it as the Elvis Costello version. But it's Aznavour's song. Listen to it.

I remember protesting the VietNam War and singing protest songs. I saw Tom Paxton and Eric Andersen and Tom Rush and Judy Collins and I saw Bob Dylan in Newport when he first went electric. And Arlo and Woody too. I know I'm forgetting some.

I saw Mel Torme from the 3rd row at Purchase College - also right before he passed away. He looked like a little toad. An old man with old old hands. And then he sang. You closed your eyes and you'd swear he was a young man. It was amazing to hear.

I saw my wonderful Eric Clapton at Madison Square Garden. MrNan and I were invited to a special enclosed box by one of the hotel's we work with. There was drink and food. But the box was behind the stage. You coudn't see him except for the jumbotons. Everyone in the box left to get floor seats (you were allowed to). We almost did. But the music started. And we were alone in the box and we started dancing. We stayed there all night. We could hear perfectly. We could see him on the screen. We sang and danced and acted like fools. The waiter came in to refresh the bar - took one look and closed the door behind him. What a night!

Well, this has gone on too long. I know I've got more memories and maybe I'll post them at another time - after you all forget how bored you were g.

I'll end this with Clay and all the excitement he brings to the stage. And the joy I feel when I watch him. When I listen to the cd I made of the Houston NaT - there's a moment in the first song where someone laughs. It's my favorite moment. It captures the sheer unselfconscious infectious bliss that man brings out in all of us who love him.

Quote of the Day: After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music. Aldous Huxley