Clay Aiken Sings for NAT Birthday

CELEBRATIONS -- There is nothing like a Clay Aiken concert and fan get-together, especially on your birthday. Graphic by Amazing_CA, photo by toni7babe.

NAT Gathering Recalled

Memorable Events Mark Birthday

Update of July 16, 2006 birthday blog. Such fond memories!

July 17 is my special day and through the years, there have been many memorable celebrations, none more special than 2004 when Clay Aiken & Company performed the Not a Tour Concert in the coliseum just five minutes from my home.

In addition, many Internet fans who have become special friends gathered in my city to attend the concert. What a way to celebrate a birthday!

My sister's first daughter was due around this date and, in fact, was born very late on July 16. When I spoke with the new mother in the hospital, her first words -- after 23 hours of labor -- were, "I tried to wait until the 17th, but the baby wouldn't!" We now live in the same area and usually celebrate with a joint family meal.

As a school girl, I remember envying those with September - May birthdays because their mothers could provide cupcakes for a full class celebration. I guess the tradeoff was that my midsummer parties were always beach gatherings, complete with ocean waves, inner tubes, lunches of hot dogs, homemade chili, and a birthday cake with candles blowing in the ocean breeze.

In Nashville, two musicians and I formed The Cambiata Trio, a chamber ensemble that performed everywhere from weddings and bridal shows to concerts in the park and several functions at the Governor's Mansion. The flautist, whose birthday is July 13, and I always celebrated this week by splitting the difference with lunch on the 15th. Our special times were a tradition.

A Birthday Weekend To Remember

On the fifth anniversary of one of my happiest birthdays ever, it is fun to rewind the events of 2005 when Clay not only came to town to sing for me on the eve of the 17th, but numerous fans who have become friends also gathered for the Not a Tour Concert and a message board get-together.

Prior to the show, we met for dinner and celebrated several July birthdays within our group. Below is a clickable of that special cake:

The NAT weekend's fun stories and "misadventures" began when I met three early arrivals for dinner on the 15th. Afterwards, Anntherese54, Valeda, and Wildaboutclay asked to tour the coliseum area for "dessert."

First stop was to check the spelling of Clay's name on the coliseum marquee, after which we located the road crew unloading the stage setup. Wisely deciding to drive on by, our quartet didn't want to be banned from the next night's main event!

Super Sleuths Locate Tour Buses

On the prowl for tour buses, we immediately spotted a pair in a hotel parking lot just down the road. There is nothing braver than a quartet of middle-aged Clay Aiken fans, so we parked right behind the second bus. While pondering our next move, we noticed someone walking toward the bus.

My friend WAC hopped out of the car and promptly informed the young man we were CA fans and wondered if these were part of his entourage. From his accent, we amateur sleuths deduced that we had stumbled onto part of Cherie's group.

That weekend I played taxi driver to many and host to friends from both sides of the country, Canada, and Abu Dhabi.

PHOTO INTERMISSION: This clickable interlude features graphics from the original blog by Claystruck, 1; AmazingCA, 2, 3, 5; and Invisible926, 4. Photo credits include Barb123 and twicetreasured, 1; Tasapio, 2; and dc4clay, 3.

A Poignant Reminder

In 2005, my birthday followed by two days the burial of the woman who gave me life, making the occasion all the more poignant.

The leading character of the "Sail on, Silvergirl" blogs, Mama Mac would have allowed me all of five minutes to ponder the sad correlation of the two events before tapping her toe, wagging a finger, and insisting that it is time to move on, concluding with her inevitable "whatever!"

One of the kindest remembrances that year came from my San Jose sleuthing buddy, who had my avatar made into a key chain engraved "To Caro .. From WAC." This special gift was sitting in my mailbox when I returned home from my mother's funeral.

Below is a clickable of AmazingCA's opening graphic:

As Clay often says, CA fans are the best in the world. I could not be more grateful for the very special friendships we have formed and all that we share every day of the year because of him.

Thank you for the 2009 birthday greetings and all your previous kindnesses. Sending grandson Kai good wishes for his 22nd month and then off to have lunch with my sister and BIL!

Have a wonderful weekend, Clay Nation!

Caro

RELATED TAGS: Clay Aiken, Not-A-Tour, Birthdays, Clay Aiken fans, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation