Fate is a cruel, cruel mistress.
How can it be -- how can it be possible -- that we have lost Ann Richards, Molly Ivins and Lady Bird Johnson all in the course of a year?
I diaried when Molly died, and did so as well when Ann passed. So it should come as no surprise I feel compelled to write today at the passing of Lady Bird.
Unlike Molly and Ann, I never got to meet Lady Bird Johnson. Then again, I didn't really need to. None of us did. A woman who could beguile the likes of LBJ and Sam Rayburn alike, she was obviously a woman of stature and wonder.
In looking up some of her most famous quotes, I found two that we can all learn from and live by, particularly here on Daily Kos:
"Become so wrapped up in something that you forget to be afraid."
and...
"The clash of ideas is the sound of freedom."
Quite right, Lady Bird, quite right.
Lady Bird will be remembered fondly as one who spearheaded the Highway Beautification Campaign and her love of wildflowers led to the establishment of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
She was the First Lady, who had to step in the shadow of Jackie Kennedy, and stand with LBJ at a dark time in our history. It could not have been easy.
She was ahead of her time: promoting Head Start and the Equal Rights Amendment. She was very much a First Lady in the tradition of Eleanor Roosevelt: not merely a Presidential "wife", but an advocate.
And with her loss, Texas and America have finally lost three grand dames of politics, of poetry. Ann, Molly, and Lady Bird -- we will miss them all.
I can't think of any better tribute to Lady Bird than what LBJ said of her, showing the immense love of a husband and respect of a friend:
"When Lady Bird passes by, the tulips bow to her."
So rather than top LBJ, I'll simply leave you with this image to remember Lady Bird by:
Rest in peace, sweet lady of Texas.