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Foxy handed me a cup of hot raspberry tea heavily laced with honey and then plopped down in the easy chair beside my rocker where I sat near the Bakery woodstove. The logs in the old woodstove burned brightly, crackling and sputtering, and everything inside seemed cozy and warm. That toasty fire burned in sharp contrast to the bitter winds that howled outside the Bakery window, hurling bits of sleety snow against the partially frosted window pane.

Outside, as dusk approached, I could just make out the bare, ice-laden branches of the old tree as it quivered in the bitter wind. I stared into the gathering darkness as my mind wandered, until Foxy, clearing her throat, brought my attention back inside to our secure Bakery nook.

"You DO know what today is, don't you?" Foxy asked, breaking our cozy silence. Of course Foxy knew the answer to that. She knew I knew what day it was. The truth is, most of the time Foxy knew everything I was thinking. And this evening was no different. Yes…she knew I knew that tonight was New Year's Eve. And she also knew that I knew what her next question would be.

"When are you getting out the Clayboard Crystal Ball?" she inquired.

For as we know, each year on New Year's Eve, I make my way behind the old upright piano at the Bakery, reach into the secret hidden cupboard, and bring forth our beloved and magical Clayboard Crystal Ball, in hopes that I can look within its depths to see what lies in store in the coming year for our beloved Clay Nation and Clay.

I looked at Foxy and she looked at me…and together we rose as one and walked across the room to where the old upright piano stood, a book of Christmas carols still propped up above the keyboard. We each took a deep breath and putting our shoulders into it, rolled the lumbering old piano away from the wall just enough to make a space behind it. With a bit of effort, I bent and crawled and scrunched behind just enough to open the little cupboard door and reach inside. Cold air rushed out at me and I felt around until my hand rested on what I knew was our dear Clayboard orb and getting a good grip on it, I pulled it out.

"My goodness, where does all the dust come from," Foxy exclaimed, as I grabbed the dish towel still hanging from my Bakery apron and cleaned off a layer of grit from the ball's smooth surface before placing it on the little table between our chairs.

It was a sight to behold, our lovely Crystal Ball, all shiny and special, and both Foxy and I settled back down in our chairs just staring at it, waiting for the wonders of is magical powers to begin. We sat, and we watched and we waited…and waited…and waited! Nothing happened! No glowing light, no words of wisdom, no promises of things to come like CDs and tours and appearances. Nothing! Nothing at all swirled up from the depths of our special orb for us to see.

Finally, after the longest time, I thought perhaps I could see a tiny light starting to build from somewhere deep, deep down inside the ball. It was faint at first but slowly, ever slowly, it grew stronger and brighter. I looked at Foxy and could tell she saw it too.

And as the light grew finally bright enough…we saw rising upwards in the ball these words:

"I really have nothing more to say! You already know all you need to know."

What! Nothing more to say?� I looked at Foxy who shrugged her shoulders, clearly just as surprised and confused as I was.

"But Crystal Ball," I whined, "What do we know? We need predictions; we need to know what is to come in 2009. Why can't you tell us?"

The light within the ball seemed to flash and again the words swirled rapidly up towards the surface.

The ball said (and I could almost read a petulant tone as the words popped forth):

"Perhaps this time you need to have faith. Perhaps this time you need to allow faith to conquer fear. When American Idol 2 ended in May 2003, did you know what was coming, did you know all the joy that was to come?"

"Well, um, no," I stammered in reply, "but…"

The ball's words swirled by again, cutting me off in mid sentence:

"And look what happened then. Look at all that has happened since then," the ball said. "You didn't need to know then, you only needed to love, to have faith and to enjoy."

And then the ball added…"Who knew." (the Ball had a sense of humor)

Well, he was right, but I almost wanted to stamp my feet like a frustrated five-year-old. I wanted predictions! I wanted answers! I wanted to know ALL, whether the ball felt it was my time to know or not.

The ball, of course being the all-knowing all-seeing Clayboard Crystal Ball, sensed my anger. The light within its depths seemed to take on a warmer, more calming hue and slowly but surely words rose to the surface again and I read them aloud.

The ball said:

"First, breathe for me honey! I understand your need to know. But what you don't understand is that you already do.

You see, this year my work has all been done for me…TWICE over!

First, it has been done by you, the fans, the Clay Nation. You went through much this past year. It was not an easy time, tumultuous at best, full of changes and challenges. But those of you who love Clay came through. You came through it all. You are to be applauded. And because of this, your love and faith in Clay shines far brighter than ANY prediction I could make. It is indeed a faith that conquers fear. The love you have for him that has withstood so much and been tested so greatly clearly predicts a future year full of triumphs and successes! With fans like those that stand behind him now, his future shines brightly! 2009 shines brightly!"

The ball continued:

"And second, my work was done by Clay. You see…with one moment in one song Clay told YOU all you will ever need to know about your future with him, this year or ANY year. He said it to you. Do I need to remind you what he sang…at the gala:

…But in the end if I'm with you
I'll take the chance.
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you.
Whatever it takes,
Or how my heart breaks,
I will be right here waiting for you.

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting!

You were there Mamarose, so I don't need to tell you how fully he sang that song from his heart, how deeply he meant the words that he sang to his Clay Nation."

The Ball continued and I continued to read:

"Whatever happens he will be there for you as long as you are there for him, with him. Be each other's strength, as you have always been. And 2009 will be a year of successes you make happen together. Clay and his fans, as it was in 2003, as it has been ever since, and as it will be in 2009. Forever, forever!"

In reading all of this I had for the moment forgotten Foxy's presence. I looked up and our eyes met, hers as moist as mine, and she smiled and said: "Pretty smart Ball we have here Mama! We surely do know all that we need to know. Let's put our old friend back in his cupboard behind the piano and have some Christmas fudge. There's still just enough left."

With emotion choking my throat just a bit, I could only nod my agreement. I rose and lifted the ball from the table and took a step to cross the room towards the piano…but as I did the Ball gave one more flash of bright blue light and I saw the words that were of course our words of parting:

"Stay strong, have faith, love each other and love Clay.

All Is Well!

Happy New Year Clayboard

Happy New Year Clay Nation!

Happy New Year Clay!"