Posted on 07/19/2008 5:45:14 PM PDT by InvisibleChurch
Some people ask me, usually vehement liberal Americans, how I could count amongst my few real friends, an arch-Republican spokesman for the Bush administration.
Well, Tony and I disagreed on most things political and came to robust verbal blows on the subject of climate change but that’s the charm of friendship. Life would indeed be a bore if all of your buddies agreed with everything you said and tap-danced to the same tired riff.
I like to think that Tony was a professional journalist and political commentator first and White House spokesman second. He could, I rather think, have filled the post of Press Secretary for an Obama or McCain administration with equal aplomb, dignity and bonhommie.
“An old-fashioned gentleman” is how my wife described him. Once, after Shona’s harassment by long-distance phone to his office in the White House, I asked Tony, “Did you ever get to meet Margaret Thatcher? “No, he replied. “Well, you just did,” I offered, to his great amusement.
With a family history of associated genetic risk, the long battle with colon cancer finally proved too much for even the ever-optimistic, ambitious T. Snow. His last email to me, less than three months before his death spoke of a planned family summer vacation in Italy, book deal, lecture tours and meeting up in August at our concert where I really wanted to get Tony up on stage at Wolftrap to have a flutey moment together, if only for one last time. Sadly, that will not now happen. But the memories of a good American, loyal to citizen and nation, will remain a treasure.
Tony badgered me for a couple of years to get a colonoscopy after my brother’s death from liver failure following his own colon cancer. I finally did just that and, although I never discussed the results with Tony, I am glad that I took his stern advice, not to put too fine a point on it. Good, solid advice to all middle-aged gents, especially where such cancer has been the unfortunately bountiful fruit of the family tree. Think on it, brothers. I shall renew my acquaintance with the one-eyed camera-snake later this year to check out that wondrous organ once again and will be thinking of the Snowman as I drift off into the land of nod, invitational buttocks gently parted. And, on waking, I will be all the better prepared for the outcome, whether good or not-so-good, having known and learned a little of life from Robert Anthony Snow. June 1, 1955 – July 12, 2008
I totally agree. Thinking of Tony, I was reminded of this quote from Mother Teresa, “In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.”
While looking that up to make sure it was accurate, I found this one that fits him, too. “Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” It seems he touched everyone he met.
Wonderful tribute.
LOL!! I wasn’t going to point it out, but that was really cute.
This bears repeating!
Proving Tijeras_Slim’s point about no soul!
Excellent!
For some reason this is the only eulogy for Tony that made me cry.
Oh, that video got me in tears.
What a sweet, talented, good man.
Great tribute to Tony Snow from Ian Anderson.
The 2nd greatest concert I ever saw was a dynamite twofer Edgar Winter opening for Jethro Tull (I was a big Tull fan back in the day) at the State Fairgrounds in Detroit sometime in the early ‘70’s.
The greatest concert I ever saw was Garth Brooks at the Palace in Auburn Hills Michigan.
R.I.P. Tony
The Snowman was dignified in Life and now in Death. He lived his life as an example of Christ’s love.
Pray for W and Tony Snow’s Family
Didn’t know Tony Snow played the flute. I’m a flute player, and I liked watching the video of him playing.
It’s kind of funny that a guy at work has an Ipod loaded with all of his favorite stuff, and it includes Tull.
I had told him the old joke about the missionaries on an island sitting around a fire with the chief. A tribesman comes up to the chief, and whispers something in his ear, to which the chief screams out “ NO STOP DRUMS, NO STOP DRUMS”. This happens a few times before the man can’t help but ask the chief why he keeps screaming “ NO STOP DRUMS, NO STOP DRUMS”. The Chief replies “When drums stop,.... Bass Solo”.
We’ve gotten to the point with the IPOD, where as soon as a tull song come on, we look at each other and go “Flute Solo”.
I’m personally not a big fan of their music, but I like it a bit more after reading this.
bump
I found my colon cancer in 2003 and it had already gone to Stage 4 when it metastasized in my liver. My doctor was hoping that I would last the expected 2 yrs and 3 mos. which was the expectancy. Well no one told me what the expectations were so I’m still here and doing well. I took on a new job at age 64 and as far s I can tell, I’ll be around for some time longer.
As long as the Cancer doesn’t spread. . . although, there are four spots on my lung that just showed up. Hmmm, I guess it’s time for a follow up CT.
Good luck! Enjoy life. Eat more curry. (Turmeric is supposed to be some kind of cancer fighter.)
God Bless Tony you will be deeply missed.
Good luck!
Hug and prayers!
I'm glad to hear that...I've had two colonoscopies, one at age 45 and another recently as I turned 50. Same GI doctor both times. This last time he came in with a big smile on his face to tell me that I had (and I quote), “the colon of a twenty-year old.” I replied that in that case I'll see him again when I hit 80 so that he can tell me I have the colon of a 50-year old.
BTW...I've always liked Jethro Tull's music...but never Ian's politics. It's heartening to see that Tony Snow was such of such a caliber and quality that he could bridge across the divide of his politics to be friends with Ian Anderson —and it says a lot about Ian Anderson that he should write such an excellent tribute to his friend.
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