Well, I'm sufficiently reverent...

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2000
Well, I'm sufficiently reverent...
7
Fri, 06-11-2004 - 2:30pm
I watched most of the Reagan memorial service. I'd said that since his passing I've just had an emptiness in me whenever I think of presidency, and apparently I just needed to boo-hoo a bit, mourning with the nation. I miss what he did during his 8 years, I miss the confidence he gave this country. I miss the upbeat-ness after a decade of scandal and a pallid economy. I think I boo-hoo'd a bit for America too. Could Reagan's leadership stand up to what's happened in the past few years? September 11th ripped away that layer of insulation we had. The challenges are very different, and values are being questioned and rewritten, often not with the interest of the nation as a whole in mind. ...Yeah, we sure could use somebody like Ronnie right now.

If you didn't get a chance to see it, the highlights to look out for are Lady Thatcher's video-taped tribute (she was in DC, but her own doctors have advised her against public speaking). George W. I thought did a good job as well, and at one point George Sr's voice broke in remembering his former boss. Danforth's message was one of hope in faith - the same faith Reagan had. I'd have to say Thatcher summed it all up best, though.

I was reading some quotes from a book that I have, "The Reagan Wit". I'd like to share a few.

On welfare: "Welfare's purpose should be to eliminate, as far as possible, the need for it's own existence."

At a National Prayer Breakfast that happened to be held on his birthday (file away for future reference!): "Nancy and I are delighted to be here and I want to thank you for the day in my life you recognized in starting off my celebration of my 31st anniversary of my 39th birthday."

He told this joke in a speech before the World Affairs Council - Gorbachev found this very funny: "An American and a Russian are arguing about their two countries. The American said, "Look, I can go into the oval office, pound the President's desk and say, 'Mr. President, I don't like the way you're running our country.'" The Russian said "I can do that." The American said "You can?" And the Russian said "I can go into the Kremlin, into the general secretary's office, I can pound on his desk and say, 'Mr. General Secretary, I don't like the way President Reagan is running his country.'""

While visiting the Canadian parliament, Reagan commented on the demonstrators who protested his visit: "They must have been imported to make me feel at home."

Speaking to reporters by phone: "Well, I'm up at Camp David. We're getting a little used to it now, but I have to tell you the first time I came to this place, to Camp David, Ed Meese sewed name tags in my undershorts and T-shirts."

And the one that made me laugh out loud: "A friend of mine was asked to a costume ball a short time ago. He slapped some egg on his face and went as a liberal economist."












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Edited 6/11/2004 4:50 pm ET ET by cussette

C

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 06-11-2004 - 11:53pm

I watched it too and had a sinus

       ~~Rhonda~~


<

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-15-2003
Sat, 06-12-2004 - 12:08am

You both said it so well..I only had two tapes and wanted Eric to see what moved me....so I found myself editing down to fit on 4 hrs of tapes.

“You can only grow if you’re willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” -Brian Tracy
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2001
Sat, 06-12-2004 - 12:15am
I cried and cried when Nancy said her last goodbye.That was so heartbreaking.She has had such a hard week and has been incredible.I admire the family's strength.

Miss P




 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 06-12-2004 - 12:37am
I don't know how people get the strength to speak about their loved ones at a time like that. I get so emotional that I just don't think I could do it.

Rhonda


Time invested in improving ourselves cuts down on time disapproving of others.

       ~~Rhonda~~


<

Avatar for dmm11730
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2003
Sat, 06-12-2004 - 9:15am
I watched some of it yesterday when I came home for lunch and then after work. Had to leave to take Katie riding but tuned back in when I got home. Again more after dinner until bed, really. Nancy held up so well it is amazing. She is a very strong woman. I cryed when they folded the flag, gave the 21 gun salute, and when the planes flew over doing the missing man formation. But when she recieved the flag and said her final goodbye I was balling my eyes out. I hard thing for anyone to go through, even harder to have to live it on national TV with millions watching. My middle son, Robbie was watching last night and he was really paying attention, I was glad to see he was taking an interest at age 14. He was moved by it too. I am sure Nancy has tons of support and the house will be different but........on a positive note. He is no longer suffering and is in peace. That is how I believe his loved ones are able to go on. I am sure these last few months were very difficult, that is such a horrible disease and it hurts not just the person but those around him/her. I am sure he is in a better place. I worry about Nancy in the sense of how long will she go on. She is up there in age too, and she consintrated on him for so long now she does not have that. Several people I know commented about, how they do not think she will last long now. What do you guys think?

Deb

Debbie

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 06-12-2004 - 9:35am
Deb, I commented to Tim last night that I hope she isn't one of those spouses who follows her lost loved one within a year, as many often do. Their lives were so totally intertwined that it's hard to imagine her functioning without him. The only thing that may help her is that she has had to adjust to it gradually over the last 10 years as his health declined. Maybe fighting for Alzheimer's research will give her a new cause and a new purpose to keep her going.

Rhonda


Time invested in improving ourselves cuts down on time disapproving of others.

       ~~Rhonda~~


<

Avatar for dmm11730
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2003
Sat, 06-12-2004 - 9:55am
You are right. Maybe having a cause to work for will help.

Deb

Debbie