Tony Snow

I was jarred when I opened up my computer this morning to see that Tony Snow had passed away. I’ll skip any discussion of his politics except to note what former President Bush said of him:

“In this case it isn’t a press secretary. It isn’t a speech writer. It was a dear, valued friend that went on to heaven. … He won the respect of even those who violently disagree with the president’s proposals and policies. For that I think he’ll be remembered. He brought a certain civility to this very contentious job.”

What jars me is the blatant unfairness of it. The man was only 53. That’s two years older than me. He had a family, and so much more to give.

The words will come out about a divine plan-I’ve never really understood those. Three score and ten should be 30 score and ten in my humble opinion.

Now mind you part of my frustration here is colored by seeing my mother this weekend and also the very real and jarring reality of going to the nursing home. Which is full. Full of people who are not doing so well on this, perhaps final, leg of the their respective journeys.

That too is not fair to me-no matter what their age.

I always have a hard time dealing with it-and I wonder what the visitors think when they come to visit as we did. Perhaps they thought, as I did, that someday it may be my turn. God I hope not-I want to stay at the least mentally vigorous.

Which no one could accuse Tony Snow of not being. So its just doubly frustrating to see his family robbed this way.

No moral or conclusion here, it is what it is. Its life. And things like these are a vexation. And I don’t deal well with vexations. I want people to have joy and fun-not sorrow.

No matter what. Its just not fair.