Former First Lady Barbara Bush Hospitalized in Houston

[alp227]

4. The elder Mrs. Bush did a lot of work for literacy in America but had some colorful moments.

According to Wikipedia:

Barbara Bush's eight years as Second Lady allowed her to become a common household name. She took an interest in adult and childhood literacy issues after her son Neil was diagnosed with dyslexia and began working with several different literacy organizations. She spent much time researching and learning about the factors that contributed to childhood and adult illiteracy – she believed homelessness was too connected to illiteracy[5] – and the efforts underway to combat both.[1] She traveled around the country and the world, both with the Vice President on official trips and by herself. In 1984 she wrote a children's book about her family told from the point of view of her dog C. Fred entitled C. Fred's Story. She donated all proceeds from the book to literacy charities.[5] Now comfortable speaking in front of groups, she routinely spoke to promote issues she believed in and became famous for expressing a sense of humor and self-deprecating wit.[1]

However in '84, Mrs. Bush called Democratic vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro "that $4 million—I can't say it, but it rhymes with 'rich.'"

And in 2005, Bush said about Hurricane Katrina refugees who moved to Texas: "Everybody is so overwhelmed by the hospitality, and so many of the people in the arenas here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this (as she chuckles slightly) is working very well for them."

And Bush commented last year about the Republican presidential primary: "I think it’s been the worst campaign I’ve ever seen in my life. I hate that people think compromise is a dirty word. It’s not a dirty word."

Bush is 88 right now. She had some surgical work in '08 and '09. Having lost an 88-year-old grandmother recently I won't be too reluctant to say Bush's time to ride off into the sunset is near.