After a pretty relaxing trip to Missoula Monday morning, we moved Matty into a substantially spacious dorm room, bought him a fan and a futon, and wished him well. Along with his brother Jeffrey (frequent visitor because of a certain Megan Carlson) and friend Caitlin Schwinden (daughter of our good friends from Needham, Mass.), he’ll find his way around campus and college life quickly.

It does seem awfully quiet around here right now…

More on Spenser’s odyssey…

It seems the night he stayed in Ann Arbor at the home of Dr. Ardis (brother of an anesthesiologist friend of ours), he was part of a group taken to the “fanciest restaurant he’s ever eaten in.” His description of the lobster-stuffed filet mignon and the luxurious salads and breads made my mouth water.

I got a message from him this morning. Seems he has a three-hour layover in Kalamazoo on his way to upper Michigan to visit Jan and Chuck.

I suggested he try to visit Kalamazoo College’s campus; it’s where I spent my last summer stock experience in Michigan before pushing off to grad school in Missoula. I still reflect on the beauty there.

At any rate, he’ll have a wonderful time with my favorite cousin Janet and her very cool husband, Chuck, at their home on Lake Michigan. What an opportunity for this young man!

After a whirlwind summer, Spenser is finally off on his odyssey to the University of Michigan, a lifelong dream about to be realized. He knows he’s in for the time of his life, and his anticipation is evident in his every fiber.

When I reflect on what led him to this jumping-off time in his life, I am proud that his work ethic and his sense of self-challenge is so high and so consistently maintained.

Besides being a fine student and a class leader, he has continually pushed himself to excel in what he pursues. And along that way, he has been taught and nurtured and encouraged by some of the best folks I know.

In high school, despite a frankly disastrous last two years in Delphian Choir, he helped to establish Deep Six and Three Men Down, two highly acclaimed a capella groups that gave him a push to continue singing. Sylda Pfile and Mary Moore, thank you.

In debate, following the remarkable run to state championships by his older brother Tyler, he persevered without the leadership Tyler was able to call upon, and succeeded beyond anyone’s imagination. Susan Quinn, thank you for stimulating this boy in his early high school years.

In his work he has had wonderful experiences serving at places like Bert and Ernie’s, a supper club in Great Falls, and Boston’s Gourmet Pizza, managed by the ever-enlightened John Altringer, a former student of mine and consummate professional.

Spenser is a dogged, determined individual. He’ll need that at the University of Michigan. Steve Bennetts, longtime counselor at Great Falls High, upon hearing that Spenser was transferring from St. Olaf to UM, estimated that it would take six months for Spenser to adapt to the much larger campus.

Maybe not that long…