I have a feeling Robert Byrd is a mess right now.

:(

At his age and his current health status, I'm sure he had already turned in for the night before the news broke. And I doubt they would wake him up to tell him (unlike various media figures).

He'll probably be a mess in the morning though.

they were very, very close.
i worry for my senator

After Teddy collapsed at the luncheon after the 2009 Inauguration, Senator Byrd was so upset that he had to leave the luncheon, too.

I saw him in Charleston in late October, 2008, when Joe Biden came to speak. Byrd looked so physically frail, though mentally alert and quite spirited. The loss of his wife in 2006 was devastating for him, and I'm not sure that he has really recovered from that blow.

At least we West Virginians are sensible enough to allow our governor to immediately appoint a replacement.

(Heaven forbid -- now I have to go outside, turn around three times and spit, to avoid tempting the wrath of the whatever high atop the thing...)

he was so broken up when it came out about Teddy's tumor. I remember how Byrd taked about his friend Teddy, it brought me to tears, just remembering now makes me cry. :cry:

But, in my experience, older people don't sleep well and wake up early. My heart goes out to him, too. I had a dear friend who lived to 101 and it was tough on him to have lost so many of his friends. Robert Byrd no doubt thought his friend Ted would outlive him. ;(

I cried, right there, watching my TV. and I nearly never cry.

I have to admit to having the same thought about Byrd's reaction after the shock of the news had sunk in. He is in my prayers.

.... that we thought he had taken ill to?

((((Senator Byrd)))))