In memory of Tim Russert....

I've been saddened lately by the passing of Tim Russert. I didn't watch "meet the press" religiously. I didn't buy his books. But when I saw him on TV -- whether the Today show, or an interview, he came across as a geniunely solid individual, happy with his life, and with a joy for what he did. Whether it was sports -- the Bills -- or talking about "Big Russ," his dad. He had amazingly strong views, but I couldn't tell you whether he was a Democrat or Republican (I guessed Democrat). And I liked that about him. He struck me as someone doing with politics what I try to do in classrooms. "Here's what you said, do you still believe it? If not, why?" From what everyone has said, Tim Russert didn't let you hide, or make excuses. He was prepared, and tireless, and unimpressed with celebrity..... but decent. He didn't want, it seemed to me, to hurt you. He just didn't want to let you use the tired old excuses and politics and spin.
And that struck me. Because I'm a public middle school principal building a community in the inner city who refuses to accept excuses. From kids. Or from teachers. I don't think I possess his decency though.
We're similar in other ways as well I've found out. He was a devoted "dad" who talked about how proud he was to be his son's dad often. Anyone who knows me knows I can't keep my absolute devotion and pride in my daughters out of the conversation for long. He loved his work. He was described as a "political junkie." You could tell that. I love my job. Education. Kids. Teaching. I still believe I didn't start becoming the man I always knew I could be until I walked into my first classroom and confronted myself and became open to learning. I started breathing then.
We seem to have had similar fathers. In one interview, he remarked that his dad, "Big Russ" didn't emote. Neither did my dad. But I realized something. Russert understood that his dad was a product of the depression and WWll and survival, and that men like that (as my father was) didn't, as he said, "emote." Russert was okay with that. And his obvious love of his dad shone through. In my own case, I didn't experience the same comfort level. I don't know why.
So I'll miss Russert. And I'll learn from his life. And try to squeeze more joy out of mine. In a randomly assorting universe, I have that choice.