My father died a month ago, and I have received many many condolence letters to which I have replied with handwritten letters. Receiving these letters have meant a lot to me … far more than the phone calls and e-mails I’ve received, although I’ve appreciated them. It also felt good to pull out my good stationery, with my name imprinted on top in marine blue, and express my appreciation to my friends who took the time to communicate with me. I have a a big plastic box of letters my family sent to me when I was in boarding school and college. I can’t even begin to tell you how many tears I shed and how many wonderful memories came back to me when I re-read Daddy’s letters to me. In one of the envelopes, I found a newspaper clipping and a passage that he said completely described how he felt about his children and life. I included it in the eulogy I gave at his memorial service. I have kept my children’s letters from camp, but they mostly communicate via e-mail. I do require them to write thank you and sympathy notes, in addition to their grandmother. So many people these days don’t seem to know how to do that.

Denis Thatcher was not a practicing dentist; he was a business man. He ran his family’s paint and preservatives business. He eventually became chairman of Atlas Preservatives and sat on the board of Burma Oil. I agree with Lesley Stahl that we most certainly are adverse to any person taking power who is unelected. In the case of the Clintons, Hillary was perceived as power hungry and strident … and this time around there was the great question … “what do we do with Bill”

I know that I am not the only middle-aged baby boomer woman who did not cast a vote for Hillary Clinton. It’s Clinton fatigue! We are all tired of her and her husband. I have spoken with many women who feel exactly the way I do. I also was so put off by Hillary’s refusal to concede defeat and congratulate her opponent at the appropriate time. I am tired of all the talk about glass ceilings … she lost because Obama did a better job of managing his campaign. I also would like to remind Hillary and all those women who continue to whine about the unfairness of it all that women have lead many countries including Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Great Britain, France, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, and Turkey. To suggest that women can be elected to lead the aforementioned countries but not the United States is insulting to us as a nation. She wasn’t elected because she is the wrong person to lead this country … not because she’s a woman.

I almost drove off the road when I heard Tim’s death reported on the radio. He was my FAVORITE journalist. I looked forward to Meet the Press. I’d leave a little later in the morning, if I knew Tim was going to be on TODAY. If I caught the evening news, Tim’s analysis of the election or Washington goings ons captivated me. Each and every time I listened to him, I was either better informed or left with something to think about and further research independently. At least 15 years ago, I told my husband if I wasn’t married to him, and Tim was not happily married to Maureen Orth, he’d be the man I’d want to be married to … and I’ve never met him. I’m a southern Episcopalian married to an Irish Catholic from Boston … but, I don’t believe that has anything to do with the attraction … He was just so smart, so authentic, and so civilized. I am so sorry for Maureen, Luke and the Russert family’s loss … and I’m so sorry for our loss.