Teddy

I grew up in Massachusetts - with Ted Kennedy as one of my Senators my entire life.

I wrote my first letter to Ted Kennedy when I was 12. I wrote to him about health care. My brother had cancer, and I wanted to write to him and let him know how important I thought "free" health care was.

I wrote to him again when I was 15 for my American Government class. Again, about health care.

I heard him speak live for the first time when I was 19 in Worcester, MA with my brother, before President Clinton spoke at an event. Hearing him speak live was awesome. His public speaking abilities are like none other.

I heard him speak live for the second time when I was 20 at a rally for Al Gore in 2000 - and I shook his hand after.

I wrote to him when i was 25 about impeaching Bush, via email.

I can only hope that his death will give some people who are against a public option health care some pause to realize, here was a man who was born into wealth, born into health care, who FOUGHT for giving every American the RIGHT he was PRIVILEGED to have - and may they take this moment to realize that indeed, health care is a right not a privilege.

My letters always received replies, thanking me, specifying that my letter was about health care. I am sure it was a form letter they had to send to everyone. But it meant something to me.

I am not even 30, but Ted Kennedy has been a household name my entire life. He wasn't just JFK's brother. He may have had some personal problems, but what he did for Massachusetts, what he did for the US far outweighs everything else.

I have been more emotional than i thought I would be with his death. I knew it was imminent. But just thinking about it. Thinking about how he did not live to see health care passed, it
infuriates me.

If every boy and girl born into a family of wealth, a family of power, dedicates his/her life to politics and helping those less fortunate the way Teddy did, the world would be a better place.

He will be missed.