The Meme and Ted Kennedy

Boy it was fun watching people guess which was the lie on the meme. And I can't just reveal it, but over time, I will try and blog the true ones. And as some have noted, I already blogged about jumping in a mud puddle with Jim Morrison.

But today, I need to do a brief...

BAGMAN: "After War and Peace in Venice, I hope it's brief!!!"

...brief piece about Ted Kennedy. Because I had forgotten but I once met him, long ago. It was during the unfortunately brief time his brother was President and I was studying journalism at Northeastern and periodically working as a stringer reporter (Wrentham Correspondent) for the Woonsocket Call. Ted Kennedy, who was then known primarily as John and Robert's younger brother, came out to talk to a group of high school students. I don't even remember the occasion -- whether it was a high school function or a local Democratic Party thing.

I don't remember much about it. I must have taken some pictures of him with the kids but have no copies because I shot with an old bellows-type Polaroid Land camera and the newspaper got the prints and nothing remained behind.

In fact, I had forgotten it entirely until watching some of the coverage of his funeral.

I do remember one thing which I, now, am embarassed to admit. I remember being disappointed and frustrated that it was this upstart kid instead of the more important Bobby or Jack. I think the public opinion rap on him at the time was that he lacked their intelligence. So my coverage was just the same kind of bland blah blah but that I did for the local garden club meetings.

Gee...if I had known then that he would become the Lion of the Senate...mourned worldwide...I might have remembered more. And shot a couple of extra shots for me to keep.

You know, we never know who we are talking to or what they will do for our world. Maybe the key is to treat everyone we meet with awe and respect.