Tragedy Changed Edwards’ Life

[Meshuga]

This article about Sen. John Edwards, who grew up in Robbins, appeared some time ago in The Washington Post.

They were halfway to a great time when they hit the bad spot.

That’s where the interstate yawns across an empty stretch of flat North Carolina farmland, where the crosswinds always kicked up. If they kept a steady 70 mph, they could make the beach by sunset, but gusts were rocking the boys’ SUVs harder than the Blues Traveler tunes that tumbled from their speakers.

They were four high school juniors from Raleigh heading for spring break in Wilmington, N.C.: Wade Edwards and Tyler Highsmith in the shiny black Grand Cherokee, Matt Nowell and Will Henderson following in the older blue Explorer. It was a clear, mild evening in April 1996. They wore shorts and T-shirts.

http://www.thepilot.com/news/101903Tragedy.html

[GainesT1958]

1. I'll bet, somewhere, Wade is proud of what his father has accomplished...

And what he's pushing for to help out those without a well-paid representative voice in D.C.. And proud that his dad wears his Outward Bound pin on his lapel, too!:D

B-)

[AP]

2. Edwards said in a CNN interview with his wife a couple weeks

ago that he isn't running in this race as some kind of way to honor the memory of his son. He said he's doing it because he has a deep concern for the future of the US, and, elsewhere, he has said that he sees that the problem in America right now stems from the fact that the sort of people he grew up with and spent his professional life trying to help are seriously being hurt by Republicans.

Clinton, in an article, commented about people who suffer intense loss (in his case, his father dying before he was born). He said that people like that learn that life is short and that it's important to try to do things while you're alive and have the opportunity, and that the opportunity is often fleeting.

[NoMoreRedInk]

3. I think the wreck happened less than a week after Edwards....

won the biggest case of his life against the pool drain company whose product disemboweled a little girl in a kiddy pool.

It was a tragic set of circumstances all the way around. I live near Raleigh and think Edwards is a fantastic man and leader.

[mlawson]

4. I just wish his campaign would catch hold.

He desperately needs some positive media attention, if that is possible in the KKKRove media. I'm not surprised that Rove wants him to be ignored; as the nominee, he would clean bush's clock!!

There is still time, but not much.

[JasonBerry]

5. I had no idea

I did not know Senator Edwards and his wife had lost a child. I, too, lost my young son in an automobile accident and know the pain in an all too real way. I see John Edwards in a different light after learning of this story. Call it an unwanted kinship, but there's a certain understanding that only one who has buried a child can relate to in "that way." Thank you for posting this. I consider myself well-informed and am actually quite surprised I had not heard of this sooner; but I am glad to know now about this part of their past and can, unfortunately, understand the pain. My heart goes out to the Edwards family.

[PeakOil2008]

6. I view Edwards differently now as well.

After hearing his name tossed about between the pundits and seeing him face off with Matthews on Hardball, I thought he was well groomed, but really didn't give him much thought beyond the fact that he'd probably make a good Veep for Kerry or Dean.

I honestly had no idea about any of this. But you don't necessarily have to lose a son in order to comprehend the deep emptiness and pain of losing someone very near and dear to you. My heart also goes out to his family.

I guess it goes to show how little you really know about people, until you know more about them.