Me & Claire Play Catch-Up

Yesterday, I got to hang around a little bit extra in the morning under The Old Man, having a late cuppa jo in my favorite chaise lounge. Claire and Honey had already made their usual migration from my back door, where they always beg for crackers.

Then migrated up around the western side of the property, by the Giant’s Causeway,

and then out to the front, where they spend most of their time foraging and grazing in the shade of The Old Man or The Ladies.

Honey is pretty needy, so Claire does not usually provide me with much more than the minimal attention necessary to get fed and brushed. I get it. Claire needs to make sure Honey feels comfortable, and since Honey doesn’t really like humans, especially the males of the species, she couldn’t really give a rat’s ass if Claire and I get any quality time.

It’s kind of like what happens when a young couple has kids. They go from being inseparable to having to let the focus of their attention be on where the most need is.

But yesterday, while they were both out front, and I was sipping on my coffee, Claire left Honey on the far side of the front property and made her way around the circumference of The Old Man copse to where I was reclining in my favorite Chaise Lounge.

Now the dogs – who hadn’t experienced this kind of direct approach for my attention since their arrival in February, suspected, like most well trained security, that Claire may be coming for me and started to growl and bark at her, which could have been a disaster, if my bark back didn’t quickly shut them down. Claire was patient, even after both Beagle Brothers, in a page taken from Butler, Pennsylvania,

leapt on top of me, more for establishing ownership than for protection.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CETFb7VEs

Claire just calmly ignored them as she wandered around to the other side of me and then made sure I was able to scratch her with my free hand, by nibbling my elbow to get my attention.

Realizing that it was more likely I would succumb to their 100 pounds lying heavily on my chest, and that Claire and I had some personal business to discuss, Smokey and Bandit leapt off my chest and wandered off to the back yard on rabbit patrol.

For the next hour, Claire leaned over my supine body and nuzzled me, commanding non-stop belly, chest, face, ear and chin scratching.

Claire wanted to know how I had been doing. How I was feeling. She thought I had been distracted lately, with the kids’ party and everything. We had a right catch-up.

She knew I have been non-stop focused on taking TCS to the next level. We wondered if anyone bothered reading for pleasure anymore. While I scratched just about every part of her, we giddily shared about how cool it would be when TCS ultimately becomes a film series.

I told her some of the actors I would like to see play the leads and the entourage characters. Claire had her own thoughts on the matter. Maybe Mark Wahlberg or Matthew McConaughey for Jimmy and Keanu Reeves or Cole Hauser would kill it as Lenny. I tossed Jake Gyllenhaal into the mix. Claire liked Sandy Bullock or Marisa Tomei as Gina. Gerard Butler or Josh Duhamel as Whitey. Alex Vause as Helen was an interesting suggestion. Rebel Wilson as Bobbi or Eileen. She wondered if we could get Sydney Sweeney to play Petrichor (she has those blue eyes) and Nicole Kidman for Michelle. Everett would be perfect for Rhys Ifans. Claire liked Dennis Quaid for Buck Sheridan and maybe team him up again with Penelope Anne Miller for Renee. Great chemistry.

We both agreed that Denzel Washington would kill it as Dan Pearsall. Iris Elba – remember Stringer Bell from The Wire – as well.

I thought Robert Downey, Jr. was an interesting suggestion for Aldor. Ben Stiller could do it.

The prequel – Finding Jimmy Moran – and the young characters there and throughout the first four novels provide an opportunity for a whole new set of actors. Although Claire thought Tom Holland would play a great young Jimmy and Sawyer Spielberg would rock as Mark Wallen in Finding Jimmy Moran. We both agreed that Austin Butler would kill it as the older Lucian in the WTLLM finale. Abigail Breslin and Maisie Williams were interesting suggestions for Scarlett and Savanna in WTLLM.

Claire insisted she get veto rights on any portrayal of her, AI and/or live action. Claire can be very vain.

We were out there together gabbing so long that Lisa actually came outside to see what I was up to, and snapped this photo (and the opening shot as well).

Lisa didn’t think I saw that she was holding my Life Insurance policy in her hand. Or the mild disappointment in her eyes. She must have been coming out to snap an eternal repose photo. Maybe next time.

And I had a great time, like those early days before Honey, even before Mr. Rogers,

when it would just be me and Claire hanging together,

talking about the stories that would ultimately end up in The Claire Saga, setting the world to right.

Yesterday brought all of that back.

As I sit here recounting the whole thing in my mind, I realize that it wasn’t Claire who needed the attention yesterday. It was me. Thank you Claire, for everything.

And if anyone wonders how I conjured up the fictional relationship between Claire and Jimmy Moran. This is how.

So, my fine, five readers, here we are, back at Friday’s faithful handmaiden, Thursday.

Let’s get the work week wrapped up, so that tomorrow is all systems go for the weekend.

No excuses.

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