Stephenson Family Ties

Why fit in when you

were born to stand out?

-Dr Seuss

My handsome Clark is headed to regions northward sooner than I care to admit. He's headed to BYU BLUE territory sooner than he'd like to admit.

We've so enjoyed his company for these 5 short months. And now I have to come to terms with the fact that its time for him to move on to bigger and better things. Be still my aching heart.

Its childish of me to admit how jealous I sometimes feel when I think about the good times he's headed to up there. College days are the BEST! Few people I know will dispute that statement.

Clark probably has the days numbered to the minute before he packs up and vacates the premises. I on the other hand dont even want to think about how its now down to only counting fingers and toes before he leaves. sigh

Clark's the strong silent type...so Im not positive how he really feels about the upcoming changes in his life, but I have a few intelligent guess....

• First, I know he dreads the cold and the snow...a little but possibly a lot.
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• I KNOW he dreads the stigma of being "BLUE" and the dress codes and all the 'rules' that BYU requires its students to follow.
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• I do KNOW he is looking forward to bunking with his cousin Ben- and also knowing that there are about a dozen more relations gracing the campus with him. And then there's all his high school buddies and old missionary companions there too.
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• He may be looking forward to not being under our thumb so much...but I truly dont believe my thumb has worked hard or even strained itself over him. We've been easy on each other.
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• I KNOW he cant wait to not be the resident expert on all things computer!! Being a computer/tech man does seem to stain his patience. ( I will miss him greatly-for I suppose I have abused him badly on this account) And so there's the rub. For two years we learned to get along without him...barely, and now we have to learn to do it again. He's off again, leaving me feeling vulnerable and exposed to every computer ailment there is. 'Cause they ALL come to me it seems. Dang!!!
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• I do KNOW that those beautiful, wicked, sick mountains will be calling his name this ski season. Its been a LONG time since he's had a board strapped to his feet. There's some longing there to be sure. And its going to be a GREAT season in Utah this year!!!
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• I also KNOW that if he hears that he's off to find a wife in Happy Valley one more time--he will implode!!! He says its all about school for now and for quite some time. (we'll see)

• I also know that he wont keep in touch with me as well as Anna did while she was away at school. Remember...Spark is the strong silent type. He wont need nor want to talk to his mommy much.

All of this means that in a very short time, our new little nest will be completely empty!!! The spare bedroom will become neat and tidy once again and longing for guests. There will be no Old Spice products lining the shelf in the shower and no cool music will drift out from his room. The nephews will wonder where he's gone. They'll miss his teasing. And he will miss our sweet Olive and her toothy smile. I also wont be asked to be editor and quality control for some of the papers he writes for classes.

Once again we're ask to wonder if its true...Change is a good thing???!!!