After seven grandsons, here comes Stella

“The simplest toy, one which even the youngest child can operate, is called a grandparent.” 

--Sam Levenson

Wyatt Boyd Wilson

Thomas Hayes Wilson

William Alan NeSmith Jr.

Henry Michael Wilson

Samuel Fenn NeSmith

Henry Bayard NeSmith

Lamar NeSmith Wilson

Stella Hamilton NeSmith

Wait a minute.  

     Did I just type Stella and not Steve?  After a roll call of seven grandsons, am I dreaming there was a pink bow on the mailbox?  No, I’m not dreaming.  Yes, there’s a pink bow,  one announcing the arrival of our first granddaughter—Stella Hamilton NeSmith.

...with my seven grandsons earlier this year.

     With today’s medical technology, expectant parents can peek around the corner and see whether to paint the nursery pink or blue or both.  Eric and Connell embrace all the new whiz gadgetry, but they’re old-school when it comes to additions to their family.  With Bayard and Stella, they were willing to accept the surprise and joy of whichever gender arrived.

     In the countdown to June 25th, strangers and family alike joined in the boy-girl speculation.  Some would say, “Oh, look at the way she’s carrying that baby.  It has to be a girl.”  Others would chime in:      “But there have been seven boys.  Odds are it’s another boy.”  And then someone would harp: “That just means the odds are in favor of a girl this time.”

     In the delivery room, even the doctor joined the drama.  When he presented the newborn to Eric, he said, “Dad, tell us.  Is it a boy or girl?”  Minutes later—when he was sure mom and baby were OK—Eric walked into the waiting room to make the announcement to grandparents.  I reached for my sunglasses.  His 1,000-watt grin overpowered the overhead fluorescent lights.

     In his hands, Eric was shuffling two cards—one pink, one blue.  He wanted us to guess which one told the story.  I said,     “Surprise:  twins—a boy and a girl!”   

     “Oh, no,” he said, raising the pink card.  Grandmothers squealed and welcomed the arrival of Stella Hamilton NeSmith—family names honoring Connell’s maternal and paternal grandmothers.

     Imagine, a girl. It’s been 38 years since a girl was born into our family. 

Answer to prayer comes via governor’s messenger

     Worried might be too strong a word, but my dad was concerned about my college education.  “Do

GONE FISHIN’ will be a sign hung on my door more often, now 

that I’m off the University of Georgia’s Board of Regents. 

I was honored to  be appointed by Gov. Sonny Perdue, 

and I enjoyed helping “create a more educated Georgia.”  

During the six years on the board, I made numerous 

lifelong friends, while crossing paths with some phenomenal educators 

and students. However, I had prayed for more leisure time to spend with 

our seven grandsons.  On April 16th, that prayer was answered. And now o

ne of my favorite things to hear will be: “Grandpa, let’s go fishing.” 

(Photo by Eric NeSmith)

you have time to study?” asked Big Dink.  “Why would you say that?” I asked.  “Because,” he teased, “you’ve joined everything at The University of Georgia except the women’s glee club.”

     He had a point.  

     Since Cub Scouts, I’ve been a joiner.  I like people, and I really like the synergy of group dynamics.  If you get enough people energized toward a common goal, you see that teamwork really does work.  Gender kept me from singing with UGA’s coeds, but I’ve had abundant satisfaction in joining worthwhile causes.  Volunteerism is crucial in filling the voids left by government.

     That’s why I was interested in a 2008 phone call.  A voice asked, “Can you be in the governor’s office Thursday at 10 a.m.?”  Three days later, I was sitting on the leather couch in the inner-sanctum under The Gold Dome.  Gov. Sonny Perdue was facing me in a side chair.  His chief of staff, Ed Holcombe, was a few feet away.

     “I’d like to talk with you about serving on the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents,” he said.  He had my attention.  Higher education is one of my passions.  And since Gov. Richard B. Russell founded the Board of Regents in 1932, only two other Athenians had been appointed to the board.  The publisher of the Athens Banner-Herald was on the inaugural group and Julius Bishop served in the 1970s.  Even if it wasn’t me, I thought it was time for another member from the hometown of the state’s flagship university.

     I told the governor that I would be honored to serve, but I had strong feelings on two things:

     1. I hoped he trusted me to be a good student of the issues. I assured him that I’d always listen to him and others.  But in the end, I would vote my convictions.  

     2. I would never accept pay of any kind—per diem or expense reimbursement.  My time and my wallet were all-in for Georgia.