Do you have a favorite memory of Rush Limbaugh? Mine is from back in 2012 when another Republican candidate lost. Tears of joy they were not. But, as Rush was so great at explaining, life goes on with or without you or your guy in the White House. Let’s have some fun with this.
But this Republican loss was a tough one—the party was lost in the woods. And how would we survive another four years? We made it through the first four, but what were Americans thinking? Like Big Foot, has anyone actually met someone who voted for Obama twice? I needed a break.
And so we headed up to our cabin in New Hampshire. It was the weekend before Thanksgiving. Boston traffic was in the rearview mirror, my grip on the steering wheel was less tense by that point. You might know it—Rte. 16N where you see the White Mountains for the first time.
As an aside, one reason Becky and I rarely listened to Rush Limbaugh with our kids and a dog in the car was, who needed the added frustration? Rush was great in doses, especially when we were alone and not dealing with a dog that just ate someone’s bagged lunch. It was just good to be at the cabin without the added drama.
The next day I took a hike on an Appalachian trail out our front door. It was a chance to get outside well before the rush of Thanksgiving set in. And, for some reason, I wanted to listen to Rush because I wanted to get his take on the world.
And so, my hike with Rush turned out to be the perfect walk in the woods. Because, as was often the case, what he was saying was how I was feeling—providing a much-needed salve at the time. Rush was there when I didn’t want to be alone.
And Rush gave that feeling to a lot of Americans. He was a friend who would tell you what he was seeing. He would connect with you no matter where you were and especially when you were just feeling lost in the woods. RIP Mr. Limbaugh.
