I just received an email from a Boston News Station

HYANNIS, Mass. -- Sen. Edward M. Kennedy was rushed by ambulance to Cape Cod Hospital after falling ill at the Kennedy compound in Hyannisport, The Cape Cod Times reported Saturday.
Hyannis fire responded to the compound after a call was made around 8:30 a.m., the newspaper reported on its Web site. It's unclear what Kennedy's medical condition is, but after he spent almost two hours in the emergency room a decision was made to transfer him to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.Kennedy, 76, was placed on a stretcher and wheeled out to the MedFlight helicopter around 10:15 a.m. where it took off from Barnstable Municipal Airport, the newspaper reported.

  This will be the first Thanksgving, the first Holidays, without my mother.  Connie passed away at the age of 81 last August. It was a peaceful passing to join the love of her life, my father,who she felt had waited long enough.
   Today, I read a poetic essay by James Carroll, a columnist for The Boston Globe. I thank him for reminding me to take the time to remember how wonderful the "Holidays" can be. I am giving myself just a little time off this week from thinking about all the turmoil and injustice in our world. Instead, I will feed my soul with the calm and the memories of the things I am thankful for.
Mr. Carroll's column is excerpted below. Please go read the whole thing.
 This diary is for everyone of us who has an empty chair or two at the table this Thanksgiving.  

  I've been a DailyKos serious lurker since early 2004. I find solace in like minds, even though a lot of those minds are getting near to exploding just like mine. I don't write many diaries, although I read as many as possible every day...even those not on the Rec List :-) but I don't comment very often either. The quality of the writing here is so intelligent and thoughtful, I usually  feel that I don't have anything to add that could even come close to expressing how I feel. And I have so much to say, I never know where to begin! I do respond to all the calls to action, ever hopeful something will finally make a difference. My friends used to think I was a little nutty....not so much now.

  Sigh.....Impeachment....
 Like many of you, I was sure it would happen after the Downing St. Memo and then the Abu Graib scandal...but that didn't get them. Surely outing a CIA agent...that's treason, right? I looked forward to Fitzmas just like everyone here, certain that these crooks were going to finally be accountable....Waxman and Conyers, they'll come through, we have the majority now , right? And it goes on and on and the Democrats do nothing. I never, ever thought the day would come when I was not proud to be a Democrat.

This is a very personal diary of a letter I wrote this morning to my son. I am posting it because I feel I have received so much help and insight from the DailyKos community in figuring out my own belief system.I wanted to share in hopes that maybe someone else can relate to my own struggles. I think I'm getting closer.
My son is in college in Colorado, 2000 miles away. I miss seeing him and talking to him...so please forgive the length of this if you choose to read it....I had a lot to say.