July 2: National Claire Day

Gallant. Brave. Adventurous. Sweet. Kind. Funny. Silly. Loveable. Fashionable.

These are the words that first pop into my head when I think fondly of my dear sweet friend Claire.

Claire passed away a year and a half ago.

She was 21. I was 21.

She was the first person I knew well, who was my age, to die. And that sucked.


Today is supposed to be National Anisette Day.

It's also Claire's birthday today.

So I am declaring today, National Claire Day.

Claire was a talented and brilliant writer.

And you know all these delicious treats that I bake? Claire's baked goods were spectacular. Her baked goods would blow my baked goods out of the water. One winter, she arrived on my door step wearing an elf costume, hand delivering her own peanut butter cup dessert things. I'm still not sure exactly what they are, except that you couldn't prevent yourself from eating at least three in a row.

When Claire did something, she went all out.

Her heart was as large as the sun and her smile was as wide as the ocean.

She battled health issues almost her whole life. And she rarely complained. She had every reason in the world to be mad and bitter and to complain, and she didn't.

And she had this way of kicking ass at life. If Claire wanted to make something happened, it happened. And she did a lot in her 21 years of life. She knew what she wanted, and she wasn't afraid to go after it.

I only hope, that when I look back at my life, I have no doubt in my mind that I lived like Claire.

She was the first to jump off rocks into a lake. Or to try a new food.


She was The Queen of high heeled shoes and could sniff out the best bargain while shopping.

She had a flair for theater and a singing voice like few I have ever heard.


And so today, on National Claire Day, please be kind. Please smile at strangers. Put extra sprinkles on that cake you are baking. Get a bigger size coffee than you usually do. Eat ice cream straight out of the container.

And please, please, toast to Claire tonight.

Because you bet, that on today, I'm eating cinnamon rolls, I'm eating cake, and I'm having a drink in honor of my much loved friend.

Because if Claire taught me anything, it was to live life large and completely.

Happy Birthday Day Claire!

I miss you and love you so much.

Because this photo just makes me laugh.

I'm sending love and positive energy to her parents and siblings today. I hope you'll do the same. She loved them so much.

P.S. - Claire's wonderful sister Erin, is currently hiking the PCT. Please send her positive energy also. Erin - we know you are kicking butt out there!