Lots on the Mind This Morning

Chris Kuhn

Editor, skirt! Tampa Bay

I'm an outspoken thirtysomething who has lived in the Tampa Bay area since 1992, full of useless facts on just about every facet of pop culture. I'm passionate about vegetarianism without passing judgment. I love to laugh. If we can't talk politics, music, movies, sports, TV or current events, you'...

Lots on the Mind This Morning

Chris, editor for skirt! Tampa Bay

Saturday, June, 14, 2008

I can’t get the subject out of my head. All night I watched the tributes and discussions of its impact and yet it’s the next day and I can’t stop thinking about the sudden death of political analyst Tim Russert.

Maybe it's because as someone who's watched the media so closely for so long, aspired to be there years ago and soon grew tired of its downward spiral toward sensationalism, Russert stood out to me. There are a few men like the good-natured, sharp-witted Buffalo journalist, author, husband and father. Walter Cronkite. Tom Brokaw. Bob Schieffer. A few others. But Russert had an uncanny ability to be the smart interviewer, objective observer and common man, all rolled into one. He asked what we were thinking or wished we had been smart enough to think of... and most of all, he just seemed like just such a nice guy with such a wonderful charisma and upbeat nature. With everything so damn depressing on television news, he was refreshing, even when he was giving the “bad news” like the 2000 Florida voting fiasco.

Okay, I can honestly say I’m full of crap this morning. Sure, all of the above is true, but that’s not the real reason I’m feeling this way. Death’s the reason, fear and coincidences.

My hubby is 58, too. Born exactly two days after Tim Russert actually, and from nearby Rochester to Russert’s hometown of Buffalo. Russert died of the silent killer – coronary heart disease. He’d done a stress test earlier this spring. And yes, while a little overweight, he was making efforts to eat right and exercise more. But it just happened. A heart attack crept up suddenly and it was over. A bright light out – instantly. This kind of slap in the face hits me hard – it always does. I had the same reaction when Princess Diana died. It’s just not fair and I always turn inward and find myself asking two questions – am I doing enough to prevent this from happening to me and my loved ones? And am I living my life to the fullest so that if it were to happen I would have no regrets? I can’t answer those questions at this moment. I’m too upset when I do answer honestly. But it’s unexpected occurrences like this, no matter how distant or seemingly insignificant in our personal lives, that pack a real wallop.

Make the most of every moment today. I plan to and am going to nudge awake my hubby and dog right now to get started.

Peace.