RIP Elizabeth Edwards

In the 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary, I was an Edwards supporter and I’ve written a bit about this in my blog. So, this evening as I reflect on the passing of Elizabeth Edwards, I thought I would go back and look at some of what I wrote about her over the past few years.

The earliest blog post of mine that I can find where I mention Elizabeth Edwards was in September 2006. I had gotten a copy of Saving Graces and given a copy to Kim. In October, I mentioned Elizabeth again in terms of Cancer Blogs.

In March, 2007, I wrote a blog post entitled There’s a trick to being strong. The title came from a quote in Saving Graces, "There's a trick to being strong," Elizabeth Edwards wrote, "and the trick is that nobody does it alone." It rings true today as I read emails from friends mourning the passing of Elizabeth Edwards.

In April, I wrote a blog post, Cancer. It talked about so many people always talked in hush tones about cancer and the discussions that were going on about whether or not the Edwards’ were doing the right thing in trying to keep living their lives as much as possible the same way after the recurrence of Elizabeth’s cancer as they had before.

In June, I linked to a great blog post, Elizabeth Edwards writes a letter to her children. The author quotes Elizabeth Edwards,

"You don't know when your time's going to come and whether you're going to have any warning, and it would be a great idea to pass on the things you thought would be important to them."

It is an idea that I suspect some bloggers keep in mind as they write. Just as I am going back and reading what I had written about Elizabeth Edwards. Some day it will be my children’s turn to read back over my blog posts remembering my life.

On November 7, 2007, I wrote about Elizabeth Edwards being listed as one of Glamor Magazine’s Women of the Year.

It is great to see fighting bravely against cancer as glamorous. It is great to see standing up for what you believe as glamorous.

It was a week and a half later that I had a chance to sit down with a bunch of bloggers to talk with Elizabeth Edwards. I wrote a blog post about the discussion in Tear Down These Walls. The discussion with her about how she was educating her children while they were on the campaign trail sticks with me as a great illustration of this marvelous woman. At the end of the discussion, I managed to take a picture of Fiona, Kim and Elizabeth Edwards. It was at the bottom of that blog post, and I feel it should be included here.

Elizabeth Edwards was a marvelous woman. We have all suffered a loss. President Obama issued a statement saying,

Michelle and I were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Elizabeth Edwards. This afternoon I spoke to Cate Edwards and John Edwards, and offered our family’s condolences. I came to know and admire Elizabeth over the course of the presidential campaign. She was a tenacious advocate for fixing our health care system and fighting poverty, and our country has benefited from the voice she gave to the cause of building a society that lifts up all those left behind.

In her life, Elizabeth Edwards knew tragedy and pain. Many others would have turned inward; many others in the face of such adversity would have given up. But through all that she endured, Elizabeth revealed a kind of fortitude and grace that will long remain a source of inspiration. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.

Hopefully, others will read of her life and follow her example. Rest In Peace, Elizabeth Edwards.

Fiona, Kim and Elizabeth

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