The American Spectator

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br> Re: Shawn Macomber's Mourning in St. Patrick's : /p>

I wept when I read of Pat Buckley's unexpected death. Wept again when I read a letter in NR from a reader who described himself as an atheist but said if there were a Heaven he knew that she was there and knew that Mr. Buckley would join her there. Bill Buckley replied "If I did not believe that I would not want to live another day." I am paraphrasing, but that was the gist of it. I have no doubt this splendid man has been reunited with his bride and they will live happily ever and ever after. Nothing can part them again.

Reading Shawn Macomber's account of the memorial mass brought tears to my eyes. William F. Buckley was such an important part of my political education. Oh, why narrow it to "political"? Anyone who has read his books over the years got much more that that from the exposure. I recall once seeing him in an interview whene he had just written The Jeweler's Eye. The interviewer queried him about the title, asked him who gave him "the jeweler's eye"? Buckley twinkled that mischievous smile and said "God did."

The gentleman had such style, even his letters to lapsed NR subscribers were worded with such good humor and panache, it would have taken a heart of stone not to re-new. They may well have been written by some staffer. If so, they were possessed of the same wry wit as Buckley, himself.

Once I wrote TAS about something said in Readers' Comments. My letter was complimentary of Mr. Buckley hearkening back to "Firing Line" days. Next morning there was an e-mail, thanking me for my kind words, signed "Bill Buckley." He may not have written it but if not, he had someone assigned to acknowledging for him. That is a gentleman.

What a life of accomplishment. What a wealth of experience he described for us. What a wonderful thing to have lived during his time and to have been the beneficiary of his sharp wit and keen mind.

We will miss him and mourn him and take a book down from the shelf now and again to re-read and marvel again at his wisdom.

p>Thank you, Shawn Macomber br> -- Diane Smith br> California /p>

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