Since the death of former president Ronald Reagan, I have had an opportunity to watch some of the ceremonies and tributes honoring him. Hearing about his optimism, humor, uncompromised character, and how he managed to change the world, made me very proud to be an American. But what has touched me even deeper is hearing more about his relationship with Nancy. Kim and I saw a program several months ago about the letters that he wrote to her, from the moment they met, all the way through his presidency and beyond. They really struck me in a profound way. Not only his writing ability, which is as profound and poetic as any of the masters, but his dedication to his wife. Most were simple, but they carried with them a weight of profound sincerity and depth. You can tell through his letters that Nancy was never far from his thoughts, and he faithfully reminded her of his love. I watched one of the family ceremonies in which Nancy approached her husband’s star spangled casket with her daughter by her side. She was stricken with grief, even though the end had been foreshadowed for so long. She stood by him for ten years, even though his disease robbed him of the ability to even recognize her. The long burden was finally over for her, but it was as if the pain had just begun. I was overcome emotionally as I thought of what it would be like to lose Kim. How would I go on? I thought of how Ron’s letters probably played a big part in providing the pain Nancy felt, because they were such an expression of how much he adored her. But then again, what a blessing that she had such a tangible reminder to hold on to, especially after the last ten years of living as strangers. Sitting there, watching it all unfold on TV, I wished I could write as well as he, and I wished that I was as dedicated in telling Kim how much she means to me. How often we take our loved ones for granted. And then I thought that even though Kim doesn’t have shoe boxes filled with letters and prose from me, every comic strip I do every single day is like a little love letter to her. It has been easy to get caught up in the marketing and business end of “Kim & Jason”. Sometimes I take for granted how it all started. Just a guy and a girl in love, with the guy trying to do whatever he could to impress the girl. Everything that has transpired since then has its origin in some little innocent sketches I drew for a girl I thought the world of. And every “Kim & Jason” comic strip I will ever do is just a little love letter from me to her.
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I have been watching a lot of TV the last couple of weeks since I’m home! I watched the funeral also. We just helped my grandparents celebrate their 6oth wedding anniversary. I asked my Grandma if it seemed that long,she said heavens NO! I wonder if Nancy Reagen felt that way also. I am up at odd hours waiting for the baby to come. Hope you’re doing well!
I have to give props to Jason for another well-written “bird dropping.” However, to keep it honest, I must respond to the part about President Reagan having “uncompromised character.” I think that’s a bit overboard what with, as Governor Arnold might say, “de civilian bombings and de lying about selling missiles to Iran and de abhorrent national dept and de slashing funding for education and tings of dis nature.” Was Mr. Reagan reassuring? Definitely. Funny? Heck yah. Great communicator? No denying it. Good at heart? Seems so. Will we miss him? Of course. Do my heart and prayers go out to his family? For sure. But was his character uncompromised? That might be a bit far.
Loved the part about the love letters, though. It’s wonderful to see a public figure stay true to those he loves. And I think Jason makes a great point that, no matter how you feel about the Reagan Administration, you have to admit the guy never seemed to flinch when it came to following what he believed-whether it pertained to taxation, selling arms to Iran or his marriage. I’m not saying it’s good to be stubborn, but it’s better than being a wet noodle.
Thanks for your reply, Chris. I appreciate your opinion.
And I’ll stick with mine regarding the character of a great American (and personal) hero.