Hours after we landed in Utah (and had Cafe Rio for lunch of course),
I met most of my family members at UVU to tour the new beautiful
My brother Topher had a very large part in this gorgeous building
coming to life; especially while he was the acting
chair of the theater department before being diagnosed with ALS.
coming to life; especially while he was the acting
chair of the theater department before being diagnosed with ALS.
We followed Topher in his wheelchair along with
his good friend, and fellow colleague
who curated the tour for us since Topher is unable to talk.
his good friend, and fellow colleague
who curated the tour for us since Topher is unable to talk.
We wandered through the beautiful large rooms,
spacious concert and dance halls, and amazing theaters.
But the very best part was saved for last:
The Christopher Clark Green Room.
The Christopher Clark Green Room.
This room is a comfortable space for actors to
lounge in before they perform on stage.
Inside the room is an amazing bust of Topher
done by the amazing artist J. Kirk Richards.
The bust of Topher's head sits near the door and acts
as a good luck charm for the performers.
His hope is they rub is bald head for good luck.
(This is SO Topher).
He wanted us to know that it was NOT a death mask, but rather
him sleeping because in his dreams he is creating and preforming.
(This is SO Topher).
He wanted us to know that it was NOT a death mask, but rather
him sleeping because in his dreams he is creating and preforming.
Also in the Christopher Clark Green Room is a gorgeous painting
(again by J. Kirk Richards),
which is full of rich Topher symbolism.
(again by J. Kirk Richards),
which is full of rich Topher symbolism.
(Topher and his wife Lisa make a special appearance
on the bottom left of the painting).
My brother Christopher is AMAZING!
He communicates by wearing special glasses that can identify letters
on his computer screen attached to his wheelchair just by looking at them.
Then the letters create words which are read as text messages through a robot.
Through these short messages, we still enjoy and witness his
hilarious attitude and sense of humor!!
hilarious attitude and sense of humor!!
He is STILL the TOPHER I know and love!
I wish he could teach and preform in this new gorgeous facility,
but I know that he has created a powerful legacy
that will go on and on, and on.
He is lucky to be in the care of his wonderful wife Lisa,
and five beautiful children.
I am so proud of him and everything he has done and accomplished.
but I know that he has created a powerful legacy
that will go on and on, and on.
He is lucky to be in the care of his wonderful wife Lisa,
and five beautiful children.
I am so proud of him and everything he has done and accomplished.
I love him so much! So much that sometimes it aches.
I am not very eloquent in my writing, and feel like
I have so much more to say about Topher, his illness, and
my family. But not everything can or should be shared on a blog.
I am not very eloquent in my writing, and feel like
I have so much more to say about Topher, his illness, and
my family. But not everything can or should be shared on a blog.
I was reminded several times during my time with Topher the beautiful
words by Elder Jeffery R. Holland:
"I bear witness of that day when loved ones whom we
knew to have disabilities in mortality will stand before us
glorified and grand, breathtakingly perfect in body and mind.
What a thrilling moment that will be! I do not know whether
we will be happier for ourselves that we have witnessed such
a miracle or happier for them that they are
fully perfect and finally “free at last.”
Spiritual Enlightenment: Like a Broken Vessel
