Ted Kennedy (Hyannisport & Wychmere) with Michael Mullaney
August of 2009 on Cape Cod was for the most part; hot, humid, and in stretch towards a season which seemed to never arrive. An unusual summer on the Cape. An unusual time in America.
On a very hot summer afternoon I learned of the passing of an American Icon. Ted Kennedy was dead. Living a couple of harbors to the East, I pondered this death. He was a sailor extraordinary.
I frequent a harbor that is full of sailboats. This harbor is part of Cape Cod. Part of Ted Kennedy's home on Nantucket Sound. I have been to his home harbor in Hyannis many timnes. I have fished there. Played hockey at the JPK rink in Hyannis during the winter months solice to sailing. This rink built by his family many moons ago. This past, maybe it is mine as well? One of the old school hockey rinks. Today the barn and wood raised for a new modern twin rink. Maybe a diversion, yes. A prominent family with many accomplishments. Change. But, what big ice. Just big ice.
Hyannis Port is similar to Wychmere Harbor and home to many sail boats. This harbor, is to the East of Senator Ted Kennedy's home port on Cape Cod. His home on the Cape is just like all of our homes, small quaint little harbors, the essence of New England. The things that are good in the summer. Good here in New England. Tonight here at Wychmere, on Nantucket Sound, it seems as if all the south side harbors on the Cape mourn.
Ted was the captain of his own sail boat. His wooden boat reminds me of the Wianno's of the early part of the 20th century. Or maybe a Crosby? So many great wooden boat builders in New England. A wooden boat, his passion. Ted's boat is named the "Maya"/MYA. The best description of this sail boat may be, just a great American schooner. Sailing was his passion along with everything; scenic, historic, and on the water in Massachusetts.
This Cape Cod summer has been rough. The economy since last September in America has stalled. Like wind in Kennedy's sail boat, maybe all of our sails has withered. Yet, tonight a nation is hopeful. Why is this?
As I sat on my kayak watching the sunset on Nantucket Sound I was also hopeful. I really do not know why. But, the why came clear.
I recalled my university days in up state. New York and St. Lawrence. The place for Northeast enlightenment. I pondered this unique character a sophomore named Marty Birmingham , a Rochester native. I compared and contrasted him to Ted Kennedy. We all did. It was contagious. It was the talk of the campus. And this guy lived on my hall in Sykes. Our wing at Sykes had become a "West Wing" just like the White House.
I remember our fallen Senator. And then with this thought, my mind went back to the college years. Marty who once gave, a Ted Kennedy style speech, in front of the student body like no other. In jest to save the faith. In learning to debate. In becoming a young American with a voice. Yes.
Marty was not a Democrat, yet far from it. And maybe this is the beauty of Senator Ted. To be a Senator, is the gift of the voice makers in Ancient Greece. To bring up issues of the time. To fight for the issues of the time. To fight for the seeds of Democracy. Always.
Maybe Marty was teaching all of us, the fraternity guys, "watch the evening news" right after the eyeing dinner at Sykes hall at St. Lawrence, during the big 80's. For a reason? Was Birmingham bringing the young Reagonite Republican's mission? He may have been. Yet, he was doing it with Kennedy flair!!! And this might be all that needs to be said.
Martin was our Senator. This was our place in upstate New York called Sigma Chi. Marty Birmingham was a cigar smoking Republican for pete's sake! Marty and I took a trip to Ottawa Canada with other cohorts to procure illegal Cuban cigars. The plan was to bring them back across the border. The long drive over the bridge into another country we went. The success of that trip will always remain confidential.
Ted Kennedy seems to be, and always will be the nations Senator. Martin Birmingham embodied our youthful desire to button down our collars, yet more important listen to the politics. Martin was a Republican back in the day. I wonder what he is now?
I sat on my kayak tonight realizing that the hot humid sky of this August was lifting. The cool air that I knew was always a part of the Cape Cod Labor Day weekend was back. "Obama is on the Vineyard", people speak. Hope might be in the air, as I watched the sky turn from dark to a very high Canada sky. This was Ted Kennedy's sky for sure. I sat in a kayak in Whychmere Harbor on Cape Cod not expecting this. But it was there. Undeniable.
Kudos, to Ted. And I am in appreciation on this night to this most magnificent sky. A sky that is his. A sky that represents change and hope for this country.
Enclosed the pix of this night, enjoy as I enjoyed this uplifting breeze.
Words cannot describe this night as the sky cleared and a new breeze came thru. To the left of this photo is the hot humid stagnant air of yesterday.
To the right in the clear air, is the what I witnessed tonight. I hope what I saw was his vision. A new America.
