Chapter 1

Growing Up A Kennedy

Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.

— George Burns  

Kissing Cousins

People always want to know: what was it really like growing up a member of America’s most potent political dynasty?  The unprecedented power, the strain of ambition, the touch football games with Bobby and John John at Hyannisport?   Unfortunately, I have no idea – I was raised by a different set of Kennedys – Bob and Josie of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania.  

My mother Josie was born in Philadelphia.  She grew up in an Irish Catholic family, where money was tight but the Blessed Mother was always right: Grandma and Grandpa popped out kids like they were going out of style.  They didn’t stop until they got to seven.  My mom’s entire childhood was spent sleeping in a closet.  Two other sisters shared the bed.  I guess my grandparents liked Josie the best.  

According to my mother, her childhood was simple and happy.  She says, “We never screamed at each other, we had sixty four neighbors and knew every one of them, and we used to go to the playground to tap dance.”  And apparently Willy Wonka lived right around the corner in his magical house of chocolate…