Kennedy interview on 60Minutes now

[malaise]

Teddy Jnr. speaking. I'm ordering this book.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. THANK YOU!

I would have missed this, otherwise..........:hug:

[malaise]

2. Graywarrior has a thread but I decided to post one

directly about the interview.
This is too sad. Teddy really had character.

Teddy Jnr. is gorgeous - what a handsome man.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. You can hear his father in his voice -

the deepest notes, when he speaks, are pure Teddy.

What a heartbreak.......................

[malaise]

4. Oh Yes

I heard that at the funeral service.
We're all heading that way so perhaps the positive is that Teddy Jnr. and the grandchildren will take over the legacy. You can see that it won't take much for Teddy Jnr. to start crying. This is the most painful time - when everyone has stopped visiting to offer comfort and you're left with that awful hole called 'missing someone'.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

7. Indeed -

When Jonathan Karp mentioned that, after all the years, Teddy started crying when he spoke of having to tell his son that his leg would have to be amputated, it didn't surprise me. I know that losses from so long ago can still stop me dead, bring me to my knees - sometimes it would be a great gift to be able to forget.

Missing someone is what happens when you love. Ultimately, it's the price we all pay..........................................

[malaise]

8. My mother once told me that the only thing

we're allowed to forget is actual physical pain. It was a profound comment decade ago.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

10. Nothing ever ends -

that's what I've learned. And the pain from decades ago remains as sharp as it was the first day.

That's one of those things they don't tell you while you're growing up - that nothing ever ends. Instead, they tell lies about "closure," something that doesn't exist, and people end up feeling like failures.

Your Mother told you a great truth, bless her. It would be good if everyone told the truth, but that's a bit much to expect, I suppose.......................

[malaise]

12. They sure perpetuate society's myths

and you're right - nothing ever ends. The good news is that there are days when the pain is less.

[malaise]

5. There's a live Teabagger

on Graywarrior's thread.

[MissDeeds]

6. I missed it

My husband dragged me to 'Inglorious Basterds' - Yes, it was inglorious, and yes, they were bastards.

Wonder if youtube will have the interview.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

9. Tomorrow,

check cbs.com - they have all the "Sixty Minutes" shows that you can watch at your leisure...............

[MissDeeds]

11. Thank you!

Will do. :toast:

[Betsyp]

13. Excerpt - True Compass

Hi all

I've lurked on this board for awhile now and really enjoy reading everyone's posts. I wasn't sure where to put this as I am unable to start new threads, but if anyone is interested, here is an excerpt from True Compass. I was disbelieving when Leslie Stahl (on 60 Minutes) said that a doctor had told Teddy that "he was about to die" - I was disbelieving because I couldn't conceive of such news being broken like that. Unfortunately, that's true:

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/kennedy-lived-his-dream-until-the-very-last-journey-20090913-fm8n.html

I'm furious, furious for Teddy and for all the people who are on the receiving end of similarly terrible news. I don't suggest that the doctors should have sugar coated it, but Teddy says it better than I ever could when he talks about being realistic and yet having to have hope.

I plan on buying this book first thing in the morning and expect it will be a treasure of mine for years. I'm still brokenhearted about Teddy's passing - it hurts to know that he's not around, that his colleagues will no longer hear his laughter ringing in the halls, that his family is without their pied piper. The only thing that makes me feel at all better about it is that he got to hear how people felt about him while he was still alive -and that his family has taken comfort in the love and support that has been showered upon Teddy for the past year. Also, although I am not a spiritual person, I take comfort in the fact that Teddy is reunited with his beloved brothers and sisters (though I still tear up when I think of that).


The 60 Minutes segment was really moving, though I thought Leslie Stahl went a bit overboard with the Chappaquiddick "was it a coverup" question. Teddy, Jr. looks and sounds like his dad - and you could tell he was close to tearing up. My heart broke some more when he said that he cried everytime he reads the letter to the Pope because his dad was asking for forgiveness. That is what is getting to me - the fact that, for much of his life, Teddy was trying to atone for the the mistakes, the wrongs, he committed. He was so human........and I love him for it.

Also, I thought it was so revealing when Jonathan Karp mentioned that Teddy broke down and cried while describing how he told his father about Jack's death...........No wonder this man could never talk about his brothers - for 40 plus years (60, for JOe), Teddy missed them so desperately. Not talking about them was probably the only way he could go on........and I understand how it feels to have to submerge your feelings in order to move forward.

Anyway, sorry for the long post!

[malaise]

14. I prefer the truth to sugar-coated details about

reality. You can't sugar-coat news about brain tumors and life expectancy. Teddy was able to say everything he wanted and prepare for his death and funeral because he knew the harsh truth. I'd like it that way for myself.

Welcome to DU Betsyp :hi:

[Betsyp]

15. thank you!

Hi Malaise

Thank you!

I agree that the truth needs to be told in those situations, but it's just the way the doctor said it that blew me away.

I go between being heartbroken that Teddy was sick and satisfied that he was able say goodbye to his loved ones, to enjoy what has been called something of a "victory lap", in these last 15 months. I am definitely gratified that Teddy was able to plan things and to say what he wanted to say, though........and that he was at peace at the end.

Have a good day!