Tony suggested that his next baby be named “Kielbasa” and Hughie piled on by suggesting that “Corbett” might be an appropriate tag for the child.
Then Tony laughed and told his wife, Megan, if she was listening on the computer at home in Northern Virginia that he was only kidding.
Hughie sat in the WILK News Radio studio grinning.
Then the boys got down to business and talked about their roots in Scranton and how deeply proud they are that their late dad, Hugh, came from here.
Their sister, Hillary, should be thrilled with her brothers.
Actually, from everything I’ve learned about the Rodham family in the past few months, I know that big sister has always been proud of her younger brothers - even when they have shown that wild streak of independence that makes it very clear that their roots could be based nowhere else but Scranton.
The brothers are stand-up guys who are loyal to a fault – a character trait that can cause trouble but is as honorable a quality to have as any. They stand by family and friends – the kind of guys who will come to your aid at a moment’s notice, the kind of guys who ask for nothing but loyalty in return.
Nowadays that’s hard to come by.
But the Rodhams – and the Clintons – all know now that the spiritual bond of devotion that connects us one to the other is really what matters most.
Hughie and Tony stopped by the studio yesterday to help me celebrate my 57th birthday. The older we get, birthdays are more and more about who we are and how we got that way.
Even though the Rodham brothers were born and raised near Chicago and I was born and raised around Harrisburg, our roots are in Scranton – immigrant roots that gave new power to the American Dream and the hardcore opportunity to realize the golden moments of this nation.
Of course Hillary came from the same stock on her father’s side.
Her mother’s side of the family offered additional support and energy in her quest to grow and lead and contribute to liberty and justice for all – a united state of national bliss that we still have not achieved.
Thanks to Hillary, though, we’re closer than ever.
But the Scranton side of her family offered a unique blend of guts, instinct and caring that manifested in her run for the Democratic nomination for president.
Sitting with her brothers yesterday made me feel like I was with close cousins, people who share a commitment to the same ideals, and despite a difference here or there, will stand with you until the end.
Tony said that Scranton is the hardest – and the softest – town he’s ever experienced.
People look out for each other here, he said.
And they do, despite the hardball politics and the sometimes two-fisted willingness to quickly take sides in a brawl.
Scranton’s got an edge and Hughie and Tony are proud to hone that edge until it is razor sharp – creating a double-edged sword, of course, that can be both blessing and curse. I understand the spell because I carry that same edge that’s sometimes hard to control. The older we get, though, the better able we are to keep the sword in the scabbard.
Yesterday the Rodham boys kept their swords sheathed.
They didn’t mention their feelings about what former friends did to their sister during the election. They didn’t mention their political plans for the future. They didn’t even mention what’s his name who’s running for president against John McCain.
Instead they talked about their dad.
Hughie remembered his dad sitting on the porch with memories of Scranton filling his heart. Tony recalled taking his wondrous daughter Fiona to his dad’s grave so he could meet his granddaughter.
Then they talked about a day this fall when the Clintons and the Rodhams will gather once again in the old Court Street church in Scranton to celebrate the baptism of yet another addition to Tony and Megan’s fine family.
Hillary, Hughie, Tony and Fiona were all baptized there, all wearing the same christening gown that officials at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington will again have to turn over for another wondrous family affair.
Yes, big sister can be proud – of herself and of those who stood with her through the toughest times.
Hughie and Tony never wavered in their love and support.
Sue Henry
