And I'm Thinking, What Happened Here?

Today, I am heartbroken.

I awoke to find my beloved Teddy had left us in the night. And now I'm headed to sleep with the news that one of my favorite writers, Dominick Dunne is gone, too.

The two men led vastly different lives but each fascinated me.

Dunne's books are lovely and decadent and somehow deeply personal. I was wildly curious about the parties he attended and trials he absorbed. I was captivated by the variety of people he knew and his loneliness.

Say what you will about Ted Kennedy and his foibles (and come on . . . judge not lest ye, right?), he was a strong and courageous leader.

Far from ever being one of the masses, Kennedy believed in making the world better for the rest of us. He started his political career fighting for civil rights. He raised minimum wage and was one of the very few to oppose Bush's plan to invade Iraq. He fought for health care reform to his last breath.

Every article I've read about him today has mentioned his hope and belief that our country was headed for better days.

I hope he's right.

For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.