TRIBUTES

Kim Perlak

Senator Kennedy was really nice to my brother and I when we were little kids, and the story of our first meeting with him is our family favorite - and one I'd like to share with you.

When I was about five and my brother was three or so, my Dad started his current job in health care administration in the Berkshires with a friend of the Senator's. My family sat with both of them at the first summer picnic. My brother (who is named after my father and nicknamed "Ted" after Senator Kennedy) remembers this meeting, he says, "Because that's when I thought caviar was chocolate." Well, the Senator accommodated his request to try some caviar, and my brother in his surprise spit it out  - on the Senator. Brushing off his clothes, the Senator said, "That's okay, Ted. I didn't like caviar when I was your age, and tell you the truth, I don't really like it now."  And, in the laughter that followed, my Mom produced a bag of of M&M's that Senator Kennedy happily shared with the two of us. (He scored big points with us that afternoon.)

I'll remember Senator Kennedy as a person who strove for excellence and service in his professional life and was present and comfortable in moments of kindness and fun.

Thank you. Our grateful thoughts and prayers are with you.