Counting Blessings

Yesterday was one of those strange days where the natural light made every view at Casa Claire look like an Andrew Wyeth painting.

And as I looked around Casa Claire, a deep feeling of appreciation came over me.

I often tell people that I’m the luckiest guy in the word. Because I am.

First, I have a spouse who refuses to allow me to post photos of her, under threat of death, but has otherwise stood by me through thick and thin, put up with my constant, infantile bullshit, and always supported me when it counted, even if she rightly thought something was a foolish idea. It usually was.

Love you, Lisa.

I’ve been blessed – through that one spouse – with three great kids. L to r, Luke, Jackie and Mark

Who, thanks primarily to that spouse, are all grown, married, athletic, brilliant, adventurous, educated and healthy and have all gone on to do great things. Love you guys.

I’ve got my grans, Lucian, Scarlett, Savanna and Stella (yep, the real versions of those named characters in The Claire Saga).

Who are all healthy, happy and appear to be well on their way to their own good life. They are my heart.

Luckily, the McCaffreys have gotten better looking over the generations. That’s only because we’ve always been able to beguile with the Blarney.

I’ve now got my books – The Claire Saga –

and while I intend to continue writing, if I’m struck by a milk truck right after I post this blog, I am as grateful for the quality of this epic legacy as I am with the quality of my kids and grans.

And just as being the lucky progenitor of my kids and grans, as a writer I have served as a conduit of all those of my blood that came before me, that raised me, protected me, educated me, told me stories, and those others I have met along the way that befriended me, fought for and with me, and loved me during this wonderful life. I am grateful for all of those intercessions. Each and every one of them. Love you all.

And, of course, I am so grateful for Claire.

Who whispered her story in my ear, each and every day, and let me take all of the credit.

Love you Claire (and Honey and Blue).

And now I can quite honestly say that I am grateful it is Friday. Always a magical day for me.

And while I’m at it, let me add that I am grateful for my fine, five readers (Claire’s Theorem) who I probably just imagine exist out in the ether. But know that you keep me writing every morning, and that starts each day off a little better.

So, let’s finish our java, get out there and make the bosses think we have our noses to the grindstone, when they are actually resting on our iphone screens, planning our weekends.

Now I’m going to gratefully cuddle some kitties and make my rounds.

And no matter what else we get up to, let us all make today a great full one.