It has been a week since I first saw the shocking news that Tim Russert had died. Like many, many people I sensed a personal loss and watched with great interest as a public time of mourning unfolded. As a news junkie, I looked forward to Tim’s take on the political scene. He seemed to ask the questions that I wanted answered and did so in a civil manner. Delightfully, he was more than a political reporter. He was a husband, father, son, friend and a faithful Catholic who revealed his humanity to us. Tim demonstrated again and again that he remembered who he was in an honest and forthright manner. Because he shared these parts of his life with us, it hurt our hearts when he passed and we realized that he would no longer appear on our television screens to express his insights about our political world. His exuberant joy about all that was his life was contagious and helped us remember who we are. What a legacy!
Although I have given Tim Russert’s death much thought during this past week as the many words of eulogy poured forth, it was his apparent failure to fully take care of his health that really caught my attention. Medication does not take the place of healthy habits of eating, exercising and resting. Like Tim and others, I am always going to make sure I do that tomorrow. Since I want to know tomorrow, I better get serious about these things.
2 comments:
One lesson to take from the untimely passing of Tim Russert is stunningly simple and should be obvious, although many people each year take no heed of it and meet the same fate. That lesson is, "Frequent flier miles will make you go dead". Anyone who has heart disease or compromised arterial walls or a suspicion of blood clots or a recent infection or progressive sleep deprivation or a host of other conditions runs the risk of eminent death caused by the repeated stress of pressure changes. Pressure changes could easily contribute to the release of arterial plaque or the formation of thrombosis all of which can travel and cause cardiac arrest or pulmonary edema or a like condition that is life threatening. Jet lag can be terminal in ways other than causing people to step sleepily off the curb and into the the path of a cab pulling away from the terminal. Sometimes thinking is the best way to travel.
From all that I witnessed and have read and heard, Russert was an inspirationally happy man devoted to his family and to his work. His point of view reflected a careful thought process and the influence of his theology. He will be remembered. He is already missed. I wish he had missed a few planes. Tom
Another good point, my friend.
Jean
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