The Last Hurrah

Some scenes from Boston and Washington on the day of Teddy Kennedy's funeral:

* Teddy, Jr., not a public person, gave a riveting eulogy for his father centered on the day Teddy, Jr., with a prosthetic leg after cancer surgery, cries on the ice of their steep driveway after falling down. "Pretty much the end of the world," is how it feels for a 12-year old to lose a leg. He says he can't get up the hill; his father Teddy says, "I know you can do this" and they will try all day if necessary. They make it.

* The rain on the stones and pavement outside the Basilica in Boston as the funeral ended. Real weather in a true city for a man in full who has reached the end of the race in the highest esteem of his family and friends. It is good to be Irish today.

* Ethel Kennedy stopping to hug and kiss Joan Kennedy after the Mass had ended. It turns out that Joan had been present throughout these past days but had kept back.

* Two Irish operators waiting in the cemetery for the body to arrive: Vice President Joe Biden and Cardinal Theodore McCarrick in conversation near the newly dug grave, cardinal's hand on veep's shoulder--what are they talking about? The Red Sox?, Washington or Church politics?, what a darlin' man Teddy was?, and didn't Teddy, Jr. do himself right today? In a novel it might be too much, but we really are saying goodbye to the last of the four sons of Joe and Rose Kennedy today and Biden and McCarrick have nailed it-- Church and state, in the persons of two white-haired Irish guys, have come to bury a dear mutual friend.

* Teddy's letter to the Pope--hand delivered by the President of the United States, thank you very much--is read by Cardinal McCarrick. It is lovely but after a time one hears a Catholic boy explaining himself to his parish priest on report card day. (Been there, done that.)

* The glory of living in a democratic republic: the gates of Arlington open at 8:00 tomorrow morning, twelve hours after one of the greatest U. S. senators in our history is laid to rest there, and the American people can walk right up and pay their respects to him: thank you, Teddy, for being brave and out-witting the gunman, for making this a better country, and for teaching wild and imperfect people how to triumph over themselves.

* Rest now in the Lord's peace.