Remembering Kev

Ten years may seem like a long time to most people, but to me, it feels almost like yesterday. On July 9th, 2002, my older brother, Kevin (Kev, as I called him), lost his battle with stomach cancer. He fought a valiant fight for as long as his broken body could take the beating. Being that our mom had passed away two years before, his heart longed to be reunited with her, again.

I have so many warm memories of my brother. Kev was almost 10 years older than me, but that never seemed to deter our ability to have a very close relationship. As a young girl, I practically idolized him. I remember him taking me for a ride on his motorcycle and popping a wheelie when I was about 9 years old. About scared me half to death, but I thought my brother was, oh, so cool! I recall coming home from school and he'd be watching Star Trek. I'd call out to Mom and demand that she make Kev turn the channel to Gilligan's Island...which she did. I kind of feel bad about it now because I'm sure he must have felt like I always got my way since I was the baby of the family. He was probably right.

We went through a period of time when I was in my late teens when we lost connection with each other...in an emotional sense. He was going through a rocky marriage that ended in divorce and I was trying to "find myself", so to speak. It wasn't until I became married that out relationship got back on the right track, again. You see, Kev is the one who set me up on a blind date with Chris. Can you believe it? Had it not been for my brother, I might not have been happily married for nearly 23 years. I sometimes wonder if that one was of his missions here on earth before the Good Lord called him HOME.

Kev was the type of person I knew I could always depend on. He would call me nearly every day when he got off work and we'd chat non-stop like two little old ladies in a hair salon. I told him some of my deepest secrets and I knew that all was safe with him. Boy, could he ever make me laugh! We shared some of the best belly laughs ever! I loved to kid with him and he did with me, as well. He was a terrific listener and advice giver. I gained a love of nature from seeing him appreciate the little things in every day life...the beauty of a sunset, a butterfly landing on a flower, a rainbow painted across the sky. He taught me to SLOW DOWN and to drink it all in. Above all else, he had such an incredible heart. He was giving, forgiving, and loved his family so very much.

Hardly a day goes by that I don't think about my brother. I can't help but feel a little robbed that he was taken from me all too soon. However, I have the assurance that he knew how much I loved and cherished him and his friendship. I'm incredibly thankful for the time we spent together and for the memories we made. As long as I live, I will never forget Kev and all that he meant to me.