Tony Snow and Amy Winehouse

I follow the news, though I am not devoted to it and occasionally go a day or two without listening to it or reading it at all. A headline on Drudge this morning saddened me, and got me thinking....

'Tony Snow Dead at 53', followed by 'Statement By the President' and a picture of Mr. Snow in suit and tie in front of an image of the White House.

I used to watch FOX News' Sunday show when Tony Snow was the host. He was witty and seemed to genuinely enjoy his job and respect the people he interviewed. I followed his 17 month stint as White House Press Secretary for President Bush, impressed with his ease at handling the press and his positive attitude on life. That job was cut short by a recurrence of cancer, which Mr. Snow took in stride.

He was a Godly man, loved his family and loved life, appreciating every day he had on earth and living it to the fullest.

His colleagues say he was a 'joy to work with', 'a gentleman'. President Bush said in a statement. "The Snow family has lost a beloved husband and father. And America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character."

Contrast Mr. Snow's courageous battle with cancer and obvious respect for life to another headline I read on the Drudge Report.

'Winehouse Father Fears She May Face A Slow and Painful Death' followed by 'Wild Night - New 'Snorting' Video Hits Sun' and a picture of Ms. Winehouse drinking a cocktail and looking, in my opinion, a bit disheveled.

Before you think I'm old-fashioned, I actually like Ms. Winehouse's voice. I enjoy listening to her music and have no problem with her quirky sense of style. And yes, one can't always trust what one reads in the press about those celebrities. However, I do find it interesting that her husband is in prison and her father is quoted as saying "My biggest fear is that she would die and she won't die from an overdose, she will die from emphysema."

I cannot imagine leading a life that would inspire my father to be more concerned about my emphysema than my drug use.

Ms. Winehouse is known for her wild life, as well as her talent. Her life is chaotic and looks to be spinning out of control. Control being the operative word, as I believe her health concerns are treatable. Hard to treat? I imagine they would be. Reversible? Maybe not, but at least she might be able to stop the downhill slide and enjoy a longer life. Mr. Snow was not able to stop cancer's downhill slide. Though he fought a courageous battle, his life here on earth ended entirely too soon.

Am I saying folks that live a wild life should die first? Get real, that's not at all what I am saying. Contrast the love of life, family, God and country Mr. Snow epitomized with Ms. Winehouse's apparent lack of love for her life and her family; I don't presume to know how she feels about God and her country. Contrast Mr. Snow's fight to stay here on earth with Ms. Winehouse's apparent haste to depart.

Tony Snow and Amy Winehouse. God bless both of you, and your families in these difficult times.