Senator Edward M. Kennedy

Goodbye Teddy

I’ve been absolutely obsessed with the passing of Sen. Ed Kennedy. I, along with the entire Nation, have been anticipating the event for sometime now. It was obvious his time on earth was rapidly coming to an end when he began the pursuit of changing the law in order to fill his vacant Senate seat sooner than later. But, still. I felt an urge of surprise when I saw it on the television in the clinic where I work, stating that he had in fact died.

I don’t have a television so I’m limited to video clips I can view from the computer but I have followed as closely as possible in order to be part of history. One of my initial reactions to the service held in an historical Catholic Church in Boston was one of curiosity. I am confused as to how he was able to remain a Catholic, receive communion, have a series of priest say prayers with all the bells and whistles, while his first wife sat next to their son and his present wife sat next to another of his sons. My brother in law, Tom, was ex-communicated when he and his first wife divorced and he was told by the Priest and Bishop he would not be able to accept communion in a Catholic church again. My good friend Paula was told she could no longer accept or be given communion in the Catholic church because she supported a congressional bill that advocated Women’s Right to Choose. This is nothing against Ted Kennedy. My brother in law would continue to be part of the church which removed him if they had accepted his transgressions.

I remember Ted Kennedy’s transgressions clearly. I was living in Washington, DC the night of the fatal over the bridge and into the creek incident. I followed the entire unfolding of the story from the waiting room at Columbia Hospital for Women because I didn’t have a television then, either and the hospital was just across the street. What I remember most is his honesty, an admission of guilt with no excuses and what felt to be true remorse. It took a while, but I forgave him.

And I remember the younger brother who’s voice cracked when he gave a eulogy for his slain brother, and how as the youngest of many, rose to the occasion that was required and became the Patriarch of an extremely powerful family. The grief he encountered over his lifetime is something I can’t imagine but he continued the work of those before him and made a difference in the world he left behind. Ted Kennedy didn’t have to work. He could have lived quite comfortably with never holding a job, but what I admire most about the Kennedy family, is they extended themselves to public service and worked endlessly toward helping the common man in a quest for what is right.

I see this as an end to an era. I’m glad Sen. Edward Kennedy continued to work for the blue collar worker, the children in Early Start, promoting health care for every American even if he didn’t have to. Thank you Senator.