Barbara Bush “ran the family that ran the country”

Barbara Bush died last night. Newsweek is describing her this morning as “the no-nonsense first lady who ran the family that ran the country.”

Public figures from around the world are paying tribute to this remarkable woman. President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump said they “join the nation in celebrating the life of Barbara Bush.” They noted that “she will be long remembered for her strong devotion to country and family.”

Former president Obama and his wife, Michelle, issued a statement calling her “the rock of a family dedicated to public service” and “an example of the humility and decency that reflects the very best of the American spirit.”

When her failing health was announced earlier this week, I wrote a tribute to this remarkable lady you can read here.

Mortality is a fact for us all

Mrs. Bush’s passing is not the only death making headlines this morning.

A woman from Albuquerque, New Mexico, died yesterday after being partially sucked out of a plane window when an engine exploded on a Southwest Airlines flight. The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing and is being praised for her “calm handling of the situation.”

Jennifer Riordan was one of 149 people on board. Her family confirmed her death in a statement last night: “Jennifer’s vibrancy, passion and love infused our community and reached across our country. Her impact on everything and everyone she touched can never be fully measured.”

Meanwhile, at least two people died following a crash on Highway 119 in California. One vehicle overturned on the roadway and landed on its side.

Closer to where I live, the driver of a tour bus was found dead by authorities after pulling over on the side of a highway in Lewisville, a city near Dallas. The exact cause of the driver’s death is under investigation.

I could go on, of course. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2,712,630 Americans die each year. Heart disease is the…