Rest In Peace, Elizabeth
By anniepa
@anniepa (27955)
United States
December 15, 2010 9:19pm CST
It is with much sadness I'm writing this post although it won't appear until a week from now, December 15, when I'll FINALLY get my internet hooked up. We all knew this day was coming but I know I didn't think it would be this soon. Elizabeth Edwards passed away on December 7, 2010, at her home surrounded by all of those she loved and who loved her, surprisingly perhaps including her estranged husband John. Her death came just a day after it had been reported her doctors had told her it didn't make sense to continue treating her cancer since it had spread.
I've heard that Elizabeth didn't want it to be said that she'd "lost her battle with cancer" but that she wanted her life to be celebrated. Obviously, she held onto her amazing strength and grace - not to mention RESILIENCE, which was the title of her most recent book. I know many here disagree with her political views and those of her husband; some have even criticized her handling of the scandal her husband was involved in and have accused her of being aware of his affairs and not caring since her goal was to become First Lady. I don't believe the latter for one minute because she was a strong and intelligent woman in her own right. However, whatever went on between her and her husband is something none of us will ever know, nor should we because it's none of our business.
I'd like to take this time to offer my thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of Elizabeth Edwards, even to her husband John Edwards. I've expressed my opinions about him here several times so I won't repeat them here at this sad time except to say that we all know he did wrong; however, I have no doubt he's hurting and grieving at this moment and that he loved her and loves the children they had together. No matter how anyone feels about their politics I hope we can all agree that the brief time Elizabeth Edwards has been in this world has made it a better place.
RIP, Elizabeth. I hope you're with your late son Wade at this very moment!
Annie
2 people like this
10 responses
@artistry (4151)
• United States
19 Dec 10
...Hi annie, I admired Elizabeth Edwards for her strength, her courage and how she refused to go quietly. Maybe she didn't handle the crap that her husband engaged in and as I understand it the woman who had the child was not the only one he dabbled aroubd with. But life is what it is and people are who they are. She was relentless fighting the disease she had, she raised along with her husband very nice children as it appears and she was as everyone attested to, smart as a whip. Smarter than her husband it would appear. She was admired by many people and loved by more. I wanted personally for her to live a long time in spite of it all. She did ...but I wish it could have been longer. She will be missed, but her spirit is there for every person she touched and all the lives she enriched with her wisdom. Her children will carry her light. She left us with grace. She was a rock. Take care.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
20 Dec 10
She sure did leave us with grace! I can't imagine anyone going through all that she did and not becoming bitter and angry, but she did it. If anyone has ever had every right to be a miserable b1tch, it was her, but she stayed the same woman she had always been and didn't run away and hide either. She's truly an inspiration and I hope her children realize just how proud they should be of their mom.
Annie
@Netsbridge (3253)
• United States
17 Dec 10
Yes, may her soul rest in peace indeed! At least the woman no longer has to worry about pain and unfaithfulness!
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
18 Dec 10
I hope she's truly at peace now with her oldest son by her side!
Netsbridge, I hope you don't mind my using my comment to your response to thank everyone who responded to this discussion. You have all also shown class, grace and dignity! I know there are several of you who didn't agree with Elizabeth's or her husband's politics but you put that aside, obviously realizing there is much more to life than politics after all. Thank you for giving me and others the opportunity of having this tribute to a great woman who was taken much too soon and will be remembered as much more than the wife of a Democratic Presidential candidate!
Annie
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
16 Dec 10
My condolences go out to Elizabeth's family. I always admired Elizabeth's strength and how she handled the situation with her ex husband (slime-bag John). She was very brave and a real Lady in every sense of the word. I believe she is with her son and in the arms of our Lord.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
18 Dec 10
We're in total agreement on this, whiteheather. I think everyone who has ever been betrayed by a spouse could take a lesson from Elizabeth. She made her anger and disappointment clear without coming off like a bitter, "scorned" woman. In other words, she stayed classy all the way. She wasn't afraid or ashamed to admit that she'd loved her husband and always would in a way and that she still believed in his good points. She realized she'd be gone and her two youngest children would need a father they could love and respect so bad-mouthing him constantly would do them no good.
Annie
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
16 Dec 10
I think that in some ways she won. Perhaps she did not conquer the cancer that ultimately took her life, but she won many battles in the long war that raged between the cancer and her will to live. She won time - years, in fact - to spend with her family, years that she may have gained only through grit and determination.
I did not realize that two of her children were so young. I can understand why she fought so hard to stay with them for as long as she could.
It is always a sad moment when someone is lost to cancer. It robbed her of life, and it robbed her children of a mother they loved and needed.
1 person likes this
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
16 Dec 10
It's so very sad. I hope that she is now at peaces and pain free.
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@anniepa (27955)
• United States
16 Dec 10
That's how I feel too, Bob. Like I said, as angry and disappointed I am with John, my heart still aches for him because he has to be in some terrible pain right now. My heart especially goes out to the kids. It has to be hard enough for the older daughter, who is actually the same age I was when I lost my dad, but I can't imagine what it must be like for the two younger kids. Nobody should lose a parent at such an early age.
Annie
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
16 Dec 10
I join you in prayers for her soul, celebrating her life and wishing nothing but the best for those who love her and will miss her.. including those of you who only knew her from a distance.
1 person likes this
@luvandpower (2048)
• United States
16 Dec 10
She has been struggling with this for a very long time. She fought her hardest R.I.P. Elizabeth.
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@matersfish (6306)
• United States
16 Dec 10
When people fight that hard, especially against other forces outside of the disease, you can't help but to root for them to win.
So it's certainly sad that she lost the fight.
1 person likes this
