When Tim Russert's book, Big Russ and Me, came out, he came to a local Joseph-Beth's for a book signing. I wanted Blue Kid to meet him. He "knew" Mr. Russert because of Meet the Press, but also because Russert was a regular guest on Imus. Imus was on every morning in this house, both upstairs and downstairs, as The Skimmer and I got ready for work and Blue Kid got ready for school. BK was 11 at the time. A little shy and a little insecure. The three of us jumped in the car and drove to to the bookstore.
We stood in a pretty long line waiting to get the book signed. Finally, it was our turn.
Tim Russert extended his hand and said, "Hello, young man. What's your name?"
Blue Kid, knowing he was under my watchful, evil eye, extended his hand and shyly said, "Blue Kid." And they shook hands.
Proud mom!
Russert began signing the book I had handed him and I joked, "Write something about Imus!"
He said, "Yeah, right! He'd kill me!"
Blue Kid laughed.
He looked at Blue Kid and joked, "What are you laughing at?! You know he would! He's like that, dontcha think? He's a mean old man!"
Blue Kid, embarrassed, nodded his head up and down, "Yeah."
Then he looked at me, "And you'd probably just sell it on eBay! And then he'd kill me again."
Tim Russert signed our book and I smiled, shook his hand and thanked him. As we walked away, I looked at Blue Kid and said, "Pretty neat, huh?!"
Blue Kid looked up at me from beneath the bill of his ballcap and said, in a low, monotone, pitiful, pitiful voice, "Tim Russert hates me."
I laughed and then bumped my right hip to his left hip, "Tim Russert does not hate you!"
So, that's been a joke around our house for years. "Tim Russert hates Blue Kid."
I'll call my mom on Sunday mornings.
"Whattya doin', Mom?"
"Just watching that mean old guy who really, really hates Blue Kid."
And I'm sure it'll be a joke, laughter tinged with a touch of sadness, for years to come.
Rest in peace, Mr. Russert. Blue Kid knows you never really hated him.
BG, what a great story. Thank you for sharing it. God, you're such a good writer. I like Tim Russert even more now. What a tragedy.
Posted by: Lucy | June 13, 2008 at 10:49 PM
This story made me cry. I will miss Tim Russert. He gave me hope when there was none during the past 8 years. My heart goes out to his family.
Posted by: Adorable Girlfriend | June 14, 2008 at 09:42 AM
Bossy is just heartsick about Tim Russert. Heartsick!
Posted by: BOSSY | June 14, 2008 at 05:56 PM
Good story BG. From that and others, sounds like Russert was a nice guy . A bad "journalist" , worked hard at that , but bad for the country, politics, and the business . A mixed bag . Feel for the family, but won't miss him professionally .
Posted by: Mike13833 | June 14, 2008 at 11:04 PM
Timmy was a bad journalist, and don't start me on Imus, BUT this does not suggest that Timmy was not entertaining or he was a bad person. We'll all be in the ground some day, or perhaps vaporized and we need to recognize basic aspects of humanity to have any sort of chance at a meaningful survival as a species.
Who am I kidding, there is no meaning to anything, ever.
Fade to black. Cut it, print it.
True story.
Posted by: Pinko Punko | June 15, 2008 at 02:24 PM
really fine story.
life is like that a lament in one ear and a song in the other.
did you by chance catch the tribute they had this morning on meet the press. very touching.
rest in peace tim russert - it does indeed seem like the good die young.
Posted by: kim | June 15, 2008 at 02:53 PM
Russert gave a free pass to too many Bushco denizens to merit any sadness at his passing, save the sorrow his family surely suffers. I vividly remember watching numerous interviews with Cheney, Rice and others where I'd yell at the TV, "Ask him/her this or that.....................!" (insert wonderful dagger-to-the-heart inquiry helpfully provided by any number of bloggers days or weeks before said guest's appearance). There were so many apt, probing questions left on the table I lost count. These were free rides and lost opportunities to stem the bloodlust, hellbent for war mania infecting the land. Journalism it wasn't. He failed at his job in stupendous fashion. For that failure and the failures of others in his industry people died. Blue Kid should be told as much when he's ready for such truths.
Posted by: steve duncan | June 16, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Blue Kid should be told as much when he's ready for such truths.
Blue Kid figured that out on his own already.
I'm sure you guys know this, but just as an fyi...
One blog post doesn't show a person's or a family's full thought process. Especially when it comes to a situation like this.
This post was to document (for my readers and also just for myself) a moment in time from my life.
Posted by: blue girl | June 16, 2008 at 11:48 AM
And, it was a sweet moment. I admit to knowing nothing about Tim Russert. But I do know if he was a radio or TV "personality," you might disagree with him--avidly--but you can't blame him for wrecking the country. Others were involved.
I love it that Blue Kid has figured out what's what on his own. Proud mom, indeed.
Posted by: Kathleen M | June 16, 2008 at 05:58 PM
yeah like kathleen I don't no shit about tim russert other than hype after he died.... and I did watch the special for some weird reason, probably because it was father's day and my dad always watches meet the press. sunday mornings during the time meet the press is on I'm plugged into the sunday radio programs on cleveland's npr station - in fact give me npr over tv any day!
but still great story and I think timmy was 'good folk' hey anyone who venerates nuns gotta be okay.... (let's go there!! ha ha)
Posted by: kim | June 16, 2008 at 11:17 PM