2004-11-21
12:57 p.m.

The Voice and Totality of Goodness of Clay Aiken Day: MCWL<S Week, Suddenly Filled With a Song

What can I say about this wonderful Clack Filled Week? For a Lecherous Broad obsessively in love and lust with Clay Aiken, it has been like Christmas morning almost every day, from the AMAs, to Larry King Live, to release day for Learning to Sing AND Merry Christmas With Love, to The Today Show, to Regis and Kelly, to nbc.com advertising Clay's Xmas Special, to photos from the Extra taping, to the E! News Live segment, to the BAF Voices for Change Gala in LA.

It's all been so good. Here are some of my favorite highlights:

Seeing smart and snarky retro hipster Clay Sunday:

Then preppy intelligent charming gracious UNICEF Ambassador for Education of All Children Worldwide Clay on Monday:

Larry King didn't give a tremendous interview, but he did give Clay time to give detailed answers, and the producers gave us some fabulous videos and photos.

Listening to Merry Christmas With Love over and over and over, and picking a new favorite song, or verse, or word, or note, almost every time.

Reading Learning to Sing, and crying and laughing, and sharing our thoughts and feelings in our LTS GB. Then, �reading� it all over again by listening to Clay�s voice on the audio version.

Seeing sleepy eyed snot sucking Clay getting good interview from Katie Couric on Wednesday:

Then seeing checkerboard socked Clay snarking on dimwit Kelly (I guess she forgot she learned about and TALKED ABOUT Claymates last February), and showing off his massive shoulders (gah!) on Thursday:

Plus nbc.com's Christmas Package Clay in an elf-green sweater:

The tease of the video clip of Clay surrounded by children and singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas pretty much put our ovaries into overdrive:

Plus a photo from the Early Show taping:

Then, a wonderful segment on E! News Live that provided a wealth of Clack:

First, listen to what Clay said about his fans in this interview:

Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose!

Gaahhhh!

And how endearingly sexy is Happy Producer Clay:

I can hardly wait till December 8:

Even though Clay is sick, and had to postpone concerts, he still appeared at the BAF Voices for Change Gala in LA, looking stunningly gorgeous in his Purple Shirt (it is TOO a 'shade' of purple!) and NEW TIE with golden Twister Dots!

After a week like this, the Clackapalooza simply begins to feel...it begins to feel like, well, like too much.

Clay, after this week, I need a nap! You give good abundance ;-)

But still, in the mystical way that loving being a fan in love with Clay Aiken tends to turn normal rules of life upside down and inside out, while it's too much, at the same time it's never enough.

I'd love to see Clay on my TV five times a week every week, and get wonderful news of the success of his charitable pursuits, along with a plethora of great photos and videos. *sigh*

Oh, and hearing Clay sing new songs, and reading his book ain't a bad way to indulge, either.

So, I can hardly complain when Clay makes some comment about him not wanting his life to be for naught. On Larry King Live, in response to being asked what he wants to do with his life Clay said,

Wise and witty Lecherous Broad Pats posted a lovely message in reply to that part of Clay's comments on Larry King Live. Cha Cha Trusty generously posted it on her site, Claymatized. Now Pats has kindly agreed to allow me to post it here:

I have to chime in to support Pats remarks...

Clay has already done so much, and he gives so much, and it sometimes seems like he doesn't recognize his own accomplishments. I guess if I can get as much of him as I have this week, and still want more, I can accept that Clay can want to do more even when it seems like he already does so much and has already made an impressive difference for so many.

I just hope Clay was being his lovely humble self when he expressed a hint of doubt about the impact he has already had upon this world. I also know that his humility is one of the reasons I love him so.

Thinking about Pats message while listening to the song Merry Christmas With Love triggered a thought for how to try to express, yet again, how much Clay means to me.

I think that's a lovely metaphor for what Clay has brought to so many. An awakening. A community.

I don't mean I believe that every fan necessarily had a heart that had been silent, or was lacking in kinship. Many of us had rich, full, and meaningful lives with loving friends and families before we'd ever heard of Clay Aiken. But, he and his voice still woke something in us. Plus, there are plenty of stories here at LBFCA and all around this fandom, and even in the news, of people who were suffering, whose hearts had been silenced in all kinds of ways modern life can deaden a heart. People whose hearts were awakened by THAT VOICE. People who were, and are, inspired, encouraged, stirred, comforted, touched, even healed, by loving this man.

In a way, I think we, or, at least some of us in this crazy fandom, are the person Clay sings about in Merry Christmas With Love. Our hearts were suddenly filled with a song, and we are connected because of him. We hold each other's hands across the Internet, here at LBFCA and throughout Clay Nation. We cling to each other in our shared feelings for Clay. When some of us are able to meet in person, we stop holding hands and reach out for full body hugs. Our lives are enriched from going through this together, with each other and with Clay.

I find myself singing along.

Nelle

Thanks to Billy Smiley and Greg Davis for the Merry Christmas With Love lyrics

Thanks to Liandra for the E! News Live caps, and to Geekette for the wav file of Clay saying he's blessed to have his fans.

Thanks to Frances and Cha Cha Trusty, and many others around Clay Nation for sharing the great Clack

Thanks to Pats for her message

Thanks to Clay Aiken for everything!