If It's Sunday, It's Meet the Press. If It's Sunday, It's Tim

So were the words of journalist and Tim Russert friend, Sally Quinn.

In a better world, I would have woken up this morning, given my Dad a Father's Day hug, and eaten a bacon and egg sandwich with him from the corner deli. Around 10:32 or 3, since I was always just a tad late, I would have casually made my way out of the kitchen and into the living room to watch a senator supporting Obama and a senator supporting McCain debate the issues with Tim Russert moderating and making sure neither of them got out of hand touting his respective candidate.

Today, there was a Father's Day hug, just a little tighter because at times like these you don't take things for granted as much. There was the same breakfast. But at 10:27 I was on the couch, simultaneously dreading and hoping for the next three minutes to pass by quickly. Seeing that empty chair on the set as Tom Brokaw noblely anchored the best tribute of this weekend was tough, to say the least.

I know the show must go on - as big as Tim is, we can't lose two national institutions at the same time. I will not stop watching either, because I know that NBC will not let their finest program fall apart. However, I'm a little scared to know who will take the helm. Probably the only person I could accept in that chair right now is Tom Brokaw, because the man has always been nothing but the epitome of classy, and because he is the best qualified to take over - like when ABC finally wised up and installed Charles Gibson after it initially fumbled finding a suitable replacement for Peter Jennings. I'm not sure I'd be able to handle Keith Olbermann or David Gregory, because their preening and self-importance are the total opposite of what Tim was.

In a perfect world, for me and probably many others, Mr. Brokaw would hold down the fort for a few years, until Luke Russert would be ready and capable to moderate the show. The again, in a perfect world, Tim would still be here. According to Mike Barnicle this morning, Luke said yesterday that Meet the Press was Tim's other son. Wouldn't it be fitting then for these "brothers" to come together and do their Dad proud for years to come?