Ode to Stu

So there is a family that we have known for our entire lives. They lived down the street from us on Somerset and our families were close from the start. Over the years things have changed a lot for the Young's and the Beasley's but some things have stayed exactly the same.

The characters. The Young children are Stu, Andy and Megan. Stu is one year younger than Vic and they have been BFFs for many many years. Andy and I are the same age and we used to terrorize Somerset Crescent as children, then we went to Queen's University and lived together for a short time. Megan is the youngest, nicest and cutest of the bunch.

Stu. I don't know anyone else quite like Stu. Now what prompted this Ode to Stu you may ask? Well, two nights ago my phone range at about 2AM and the next morning I found out that Stu and his brother Andy drunk dialed me. This has been a somewhat common occurrence over the years for Stu to drunk dial a Beasley. Off the top of my head I remember him calling from Venice and talking to my dad and my sister briefly before falling into a canal. There was the time when he missed the last train out of London England and drunk dialed us from a door way in middle of London - where he ended up sleeping I might add. And then there was the time he slept in a field and woke up to a wild Boar sniffing around... So the other night was not uncommon. Oh Stu.

Stu has a lust for life and the best attitude toward life that I have ever encountered. He does whatever makes him happy. He works hard and plays hard. And he doesn't take anything for granted. He truly lives with the saying "You only live once" as his motto. And what's more is he makes it look easy. He hated Ontario for several reasons including the weather and hated living in London because it is a soul sucking void of culture and ambition; his words, not mine and I may have paraphrased slightly. So he moved to BC - done. He wanted to travel. So he picked up went to England, got a job, experienced the life, traveled around Europe doing whatever and when ever (sleeping in fields, falling into canals - referred to earlier) then came home. He went to Uni then did his Masters and now works for the BC government assisting the big guys with public policy and strategy (or something) and loves it. And any time we have a conversation I leave thinking I can take over the world then I never to do anything.

The point of my story is I find him quite inspiring. I'm sure he will make fun of me for a long while after this post, but I really think something can be learned from the way Stu sees and lives life. Now just applying the life lessons..... that's harder for anyone other than Stu.

Stu, never change.