Let me begin by saying I was not a fan of Ted Kennedy, but I have a tremendous amount of respect for the closeness of his family. Only one member of his generation remains, his sister Jean. When his body was moved to the Kennedy Library in Boston, over 80 family members were in the procession and someone from the family has remained with his body during its repose there. There is much to be admired for this dedication to family.

I have no home base and my extended family is quite small. My parents sold the home we grew up in when the last of us was off to college. They strongly believed that completed their job and did not want to complicate our adult lives by interfering or offering advice unless asked for it. Five children, all going in different directions. The closest thing I have to a family reunion is attending my niece's wedding in 2002. Almost all of us were there as we celebrated the wedding and my mother's 81st birthday. I'm not sure which event was more moving. I was not around to see my nieces and nephews grow up and only got to know them after they became adults. Having my brothers and sister around with my father and mother at the same table for the first time in at least 35 years brought me to tears.

I have two cousins from my father's side that I have never met. I have second cousins in Brazil that I have only met once, when I was a teenager. When my grandmother passed in 1978, I got a phone call. Same for my grandparents in Brazil, and my aunt and uncle. No funeral services for any of them, and I suspect that is my parents wish for themselves as well.

Death is a powerful family event, so forgive me if I am a little jealous of what the Kennedy's have. When all the power and celebrity of this event passes, they still have each other, and that is greater than any political legacy that they may have.