gimme a C!

attention: italian cherub travels from modern rome, a,k.a san diego, and emerges from ancient pueblonian kiva!

clara, clarey, clarabelle has been johnny and hils best friend forever and forever will be. she's like another mama to us and she's simply the best. if you haven't met her you are missing out on the cutest, sweetest, most loving human we've ever known. seriously, it would take me a long time to think of a poem to describe this most dynamic and wonderful woman. i'll just let the pictures tell the story...

she brought a lot of crap! but we love her anyway...

there was lots of dress up as we unpacked the 6 or so suitcases she brought for 3 days of visiting. some italians aren't much for minimalism. ella le ama mucho el belagio y las vegas.

wally got a little stressed out.

clara even wore socks with my name on them which she kindly left to me along with a tiara under my bed, kerchiefs on my pillow, a silk flower on my mirror, and a satin slipper under my sink. i think she's my fairy godmother!

we took clarey to the pecos monument. here are the two cutest friends ever in my opinion. daily conversations went a lot like this...

hils! get over here!

no!

rocko. get me a _______ (insert electronic device), 4 triple A batteries, a plastic bag, and the card with the picture of my dog who died that i sent hils 2 years ago.

uh, okay...

just go in her room and look for it. don't answer anyone's questions.

okay, clarey. but--?
don't ask questions. remember- CIA, rocko. just do it.

okay, i'll try.

don't say you'll try! just do it!

when she wasn't bossing us around she enjoyed taking in nature. she got up every morning to watch the sunrise. she only disturbed one neighbor on the first morning as she jazzercized and sang with her ipod in the dirt circle at the end of the road. she thought it was a little more secluded than it actually is here. no worries, clarey.

clara's favorite part was gettting to spend time with n. she loves n like one of her own 4 sons and was very honored to give him a leg massage. n said he's never had such deep tissue work on his legs and with such a generous amount of lotion! clarey said that she's never been more humbled than being around nat, as she affectionately calls him.

there really isn't anyone like clara. she is a wife, mother, sister, auntie, and friend like NO OTHER. she kept us laughing in a parade of outfits and stories filled with humor, italian drama and an endless series of props continuously emerging from her bra area. this along with sincere passion and great faith about everyone and everything she talked about.

what would we do without our dear friend? she is truly the cutest person in the world who showered us with unforgettable love, inspirational speeches, endless complements, fiery encouragement, scores of memories, and a killer 4 course italian dinner with candlelight and forced freedom from the kitchen for an evening. not to mention she also left behind a giant, inflatible agility run for the dog and myriads of other trinkets, videos, and photos tucked around the house to remind us of our queen of friends.

ciao, bella! we love you!!!!!