A Special Lady

Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who died Tuesday at the age of 88, was remembered today by her family and friends. I was touched by the obvious love, respect and adoration of her family but also deeply touched by the crowd of Special Olympians who gathered to celebrate and honor her life.

She will be remembered more for her role as the founder of Special Olympics than her luck of birth into the Kennedy family. She could have simply enjoyed a life of lazy luxury, but instead she saw a need and set about to do something about it.

I met Mrs. Shriver in 1960, when she visited the facility my mentally challenged brother was living in at the time. He was only 6 very young years old. I don't remember her car or her staff, though I assume she was well taken care of. I do remember her sitting my brother, known as Pistol as my Daddy knicknamed him, on her lap and making him feel very special.

Pistol is now 56 and I have lost count of his medals! He earns them with hard work and wears them proudly. He, like millions of others who are mentally challenged, can compete and excel in his physical abilities even while he struggles to function mentally. Thank you Mrs. Shriver for helping to make that possible.

Another reason I was deeply touched by today's service for Mrs. Shriver is that she leaves behind a husband with Alzheimer's, just as my Mother did. One wonders how much he understands but you saw glimpses of him knowing what was going on when he waved goodbye to the back of the hearse after the family placed the casket inside.

This is such a sweet picture of one of his grandchildren gently loving him.

And, here is a great-grandson, Colin, making his great-granddaddy, my Daddy, smile.

Children are God's gift to us, regardless of the challenges. Mrs. Shriver knew that.

P.S. Two days after I wrote this Pistol called to tell me he had won 4 more medals. This time in swimming! Yea Pistol!