I can't help it.

When Clay intoned at me his parting, "Use your voice," I nearly feel out of my chair laughing. This after nearly being given a coronary when he shouted at me, "HEY THERE!"

The image that pops into my head uninvited (really!) is that of the supplicant on bended knee before the GREAT EXALTED ONE (you know the pose from a hundred B movies about King Arthur).

Arise, my child, Go forth. USE YOUR VOICE.

Yes, Master!

Please. I'm old enough to be his mother. If I want a twentysomething to pat me on the head and pontificate as only a twentysomething can, I'll call one of my kids.

But, I guess this is Clay's new standard signoff from the closing lines of Learning to Sing.(1)

IIRC, and it's getting hard, because I'm not getting any younger (ref. coronary), he started with "God Bless." Maybe he thought that too religious, although even this devout atheist thought it was fine coming from a believer. It was soon followed by the alliterative, "Hope, Health, Happiness," giggle-inducing in its own right for sounding like something from the umpteenth rip-off of Star Wars, but at least it wasn't an intonement(2) from on high.

Clay, use YOUR voice.

Soon.

I'm not-so-patiently waiting to slaver(3) again.

What I would love to hear Clay sing on the JBT: Baby, I Need Your Loving.

One question I will ask Clay when I win the truth serum contest: When you were coming on stage the night of the Anomaly to reprise BOTW, did you or did you not toss something aside, perhaps a cough drop? I have money riding on this answer.

(1) Friendly consumer warning: Learning to Sing is NOT about learning to sing. (2) Intonement is NOT a real word. (3) Jemock's Patented Vocabulary-Builder Word of the Day: For the Clay Fan with Superior Intellect and Overactive Saliva Glands.