An Angel Named Clarence

It truly is A Wonderful Life.

Back in the early summer of 2023, I met a man of comparable demographic in Ft. Collins while waiting on line to file a challenge to Colorado’s most recent biannual oppressive and unwarranted increase the State and Local government were imposing to the property tax on Casa Claire.

After we discussed the issue at hand the way intelligent and like minded conspirators might, we moved on to other more pleasant subjects that included delving into each other’s backgrounds. Clarence was a “retired” veterinarian dental surgeon,

who now volunteers all over the country to work on large mammals’ teeth in rescues.

My legal profession was nowhere near as altruistic, but as a writer at least I wrote about characters that were large mammals that had been rescued. Clarence gave off his own mystical energy. We hit it off, and Clarence promised to pick up a copy of TWA.

Well, October rolled around and Clarence reached out with a request to visit Casa Claire and meet the magical and mystical Claire the Mule.

I suspected that, like so many others, he may have thought that I had made Claire up.

But even more interesting, was that Clarence kept copies of pawprints of all the coolest large animals he had ever worked on on the walls of his home office, and was wondering if Claire would be up to provide a Grauman’s Chinese Theatre type hoofprint for his collection. He also wanted his copies of The Claire Trilogy, which he had completed, inscribed. I said “if you can get a hoof print from Claire, you are welcome to it,” and that I would be happy to inscribe his books.

Well, Clarence was a charmer, a real creature whisperer,

and soon had Claire eating right out of his hand. Claire doesn’t just kiss anybody.

In no time at all, Clarence had obtained Claire’s autograph.

Then I gave the man I now affectionately refer to as “Doc” a cook’s tour of Casa Claire, including a stop at “Claire’s Wee Laire.”

And then Doc went on his way, but not before I added an inscribed copy of FJM to his inscribed TCT collection.

Now Doc is part of the 5 member rotation (“Claire’s Theorem”) that will at any given time pop onto TheWiseNovelist.com webpage and read one of my blogs. On rare occasion, Doc will post a comment.

Late yesterday, doc posted a comment that just made my day/week/year.

I include it here:

You see, Doc is a very wise man, who understands that whenever you are reading an epic story told over a number of books, like Harry Potter or LOTR, you really need to refresh your memory of all the events and characters that lead up to the latest volume, so that you are fully familiar with the players and the score of the game before you pick up that ball one last time.

Well, Doc’s engagement process paid off, and he thoroughly enjoyed The Claire Saga the way it should be enjoyed, in a rebinged, epic fashion.

I so appreciate hearing this kind of response from a local person of comparable age and demographic who is as devoted to the happiness of all creatures as Doc.

Now, before Doc left Casa Claire that afternoon last October, he presented me with a pen that he had personally hand carved. I promised him that I would use this pen to sign every and all Hollywood Contracts relating to The Claire Saga.

Doc’s pen sits on my altar, absorbing all the positive ju-ju, waiting patiently but expectantly for its big opportunity, and came to mind with the closing line of Clarence’s post – “Hope to see the movie version soon!!”

Clarence, from your lips to God’s ears.

The day I sign those contracts, you are definitely getting your wings.

Well, that is how you turn a quiet Thursday into memorable moment here at Casa Claire.

But now the day awaits, and the work needs to be wrapped up.

So you fine, five readers get that last cuppa in you and then do everything you need to in order to free Friday up for its legitimate purpose, planning the weekend.

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

No matter what else we get up to, let us make today a great one.

And Doc, if you are one of the five, fine creatures reading my blog today, thanks again for all of your support.

Claire sends her love.