Readers all over the country are falling in love with "When We Were the Kennedys," a best-selling memoir written by Maine author Monica Wood. It shines a poignant light on growing up in Mexico, Maine and what it's like to lose a father at nine years old.
Readers are also falling in love with someone else. Wood's very special sister, Betty.
Betty Wood: "I'm gonna go get Kim, ok?
Betty might be one of Kim’s biggest fans. What makes that so special is that Betty is developmentally disabled and has trouble consistently counting past ten. Yet she remembers just about every news story Kim ever covered. For the past thirty years, Channel 13 has been one of the steady streams in her consciousness and that's led to a lovely friendship.
On a recent visit to the station, where she had a front row seat to the noon news, Betty hid her eyes at any sign of shocking video or grave content and reminded Kim how often she watches.
Betty Wood: "Every single night. I try to wave on TV at home, but you don't see me!"
And now, a lot of people know about Betty's connection with Channel 13. Her sister Monica wrote about it in an article in this month's Yankee Magazine called "This Just In." It's only added to the Betty fan club.
Monica Wood, author/Betty's sister: "She's getting very famous. She can't walk down the street in Rumford these days without someone stopping her. Cause my bones are so delicate. Speaking of osteoporosis, which of course, we were!"
When she isn't watching the news, Betty works at a community program for developmentally disabled adults, called the Hope association. They help a number of local charities.
Her sisters have always known Betty brings joy to their world. Now, readers everywhere are finding some Betty joy in theirs.
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