Ted Kennedy is Gone – by JoAnn Wendl

August 26, 2009

2:00 AM

CNN’s announcement filtered through my sleeping consciousness until my heart began to quake at the significance of the news, and scenes from past tragedies played and replayed as in a dream. The focus of my sleeping mind drew clearer and I could see, feel and hear, reluctantly, that it was not a dream.  Ted Kennedy had died.

I am experiencing a shock that surprises me in its intensity.  We all knew how ill he was, and so his passing was expected.  But I hadn’t fully realized the enormity of his influence in my life and the sense of well being I felt at simply knowing he was still around in this chaotic world.

And so I grieve . . .  I grieve for all the losses of the sixties, the many tragedies we’ve all suffered over these last almost fifty years, and I remember how I watched Ted Kennedy take one crushing personal blow after another as he learned to persevere and keep the faith.  He became the keeper of that flame that never dies, becoming the father figure in his family, and a father figure for us all.  He triumphed despite tremendous losses and taught us how to endure.  After the assassinations of our liberal leaders in the sixties, he took us by the hand, shared his grief with a grieving nation and became the most outspoken liberal voice in the senate, as a champion of human and civil rights.

He will be missed.

JoAnn

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 08/26/09

“It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do.”   —– Jerome K. Jerome

Jumble Spoiler – 08/26/09

Visual Description:  Hotdog vendor talking to a patron, in the park.

GARBE  =  BARGE,  HOVUC  =  VOUCH,  DOYLEM  =  MELODY,  VERROF  =  FERVOR   —   Giving us:  AEVHODER

Clue/Question:  Why he traded his hotdog stand for a push cart.

Answer:  NO OVER–HEAD