This week has been kinda hard for me. It has a lot to do w/ Ted Kennedy, but it also has a lot to do w/ myself. I have been amazingly happy since I got to DC, I haven't for one second thought I made the wrong decision. In a way, that has been a bit disconcerting. Maybe its still the honeymoon, but when will that end? And will I come crashing down? How will I deal w/ that? What will come next? It took me a long time to learn to love Boston, but in a way that seemed like a normal, natural progression. Like most New Englanders, things usually have to grow on me. But w/ DC it was different, I came down here and right away knew this was the place for me. Basically, I never looked back... Within 6 months, I had a job and was packing my worldly possessions to take the plunge. I still think this is the right place for me, I'm loving my job, the city, my life-- personally and professionally. I'm interested to see how the Fall goes, when the weather changes, and being outside by myself begins to lose its appeal, but all in all, I think I'm good here...Then Senator Kennedy died. We all knew he was sick. We all knew he wouldn't get better. We all know who will throw their names into the ring for the open Senate seat. But we all hoped it would be for Kerry's seat, not
Teddy's. Then there's the timing. The end of August recess. The health care debate. Those town halls. The infamous filibuster. The 60 "democratic" senators (inc. Lieberman, ick), which we only just gained this summer w/ the recent seating of Al Franken. Looking back the signs were there; he didn't go to his sister's funeral, he sent a letter, dated 6 weeks prior, to Deval, Bobby and Terry asking for a quick, short-term appointment should he die before his term ends, but I never doubted that he would board that plane to come down and not only vote for health care reform, but likely speak on the monumental meaning of its passage. Alas, health care reform may have unfortunately died with him. One can only hope, as I did watching Orrin Hatch and John McCain speak at his memorial service tonight, that his death will reinvigorate the understanding of what this debate is actually for, and what the reform bills actually are comprised of.But I wasn't ready, I am not ready to say goodbye to the lion of the Senate and the important and incredible work he did for the citizens of Massachusetts, and for all Americans. And, I wasn't ready for the feelings it would bring up in me about Boston, Massachusetts, and leaving. Overall, I know DC is the right place for me right now, for my political self, for my career, and likely my personal life too, but I can't help but think over and over this week, that Boston is where I should be. I should have been standing amongst my peers and colleagues on Bowdoin St, shoulder to shoulder w/ the guys from Capitol Coffee to bid farewell to my Senator. I've realized this week, that Boston truly became my home. I relate more as a Massachusetts
resident, then I ever did as one from Connecticut. I know the inner workings, the main players, the inside jokes, the moonbats, and I miss them all. Maybe that will come in time w/ DC, but I'm not sure. DC is defined by its transient population. It is a place where people travel to for meetings, conferences,etc. It is a place where people from all over the country and the world come for short or long stays, but always with the plan to go "home" again. When I moved down here, I said I didn't know how long I'd be here, and that while I cannot say what the future holds, Boston was always a place I could see myself returning to. I didn't leave cuz I hated it, I left cuz I needed change. That is more apparent to me now than ever. In a way my future may be shaped by the loss of Senator Kennedy. The Massachusetts political landscape has just changed drastically, and depending on how it shakes out, it is possible I could want to be back there sooner, rather than later. Or perhaps a position would become available down here that would allow me to stay better connected to Boston. It is too soon to tell how it will all shake out, but this week has certainly made me think 
about my past, present and future in new and different ways.And of course this week has made me reinvigorated in my career path. I am honored to work in the same field as Senator Kennedy, and I believe that he would value the work that I do daily to ensure that women (and increasingly men) have access to reproductive health care informed through evidence-based science.I look forward to the day when Congress passes the Edward Moore Kennedy Health Care Reform Bill, and the day that President Obama signs it into law. A fitting closing chapter to Camelot.
