We Climbed before the Klimb 4 Kim...

We Climbed before the Klimb 4 Kim...
1997's Climb

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Some Good Memories...

     After we broke up back in 7th grade, well, after Kim broke up with me for an 8th grader, we stayed friends.  I'd carry Kim's books home for her.  She'd come to my soccer practices and games.  We'd call each other up now and again.  Sometimes we get together at a dance or at the mall.  In 8th grade, we went to a weekend camp together, Camp Brenard (did I spell that right Terri?), where, Terri alluded to a frozen pair of underwear that appeared in place of the flag way up on top of the flagpole one morning - I don't think they were mine, or Kim's!  It was a beautiful camp, with little cabins set in a circle around a large grassy area.  There was a little lake, with row boats.  We did Bible reading twice a day and there were a lot of activities throughout the rest of the day.  Kim and I were not going steady, but enjoyed each other's company a lot...
   Sometimes we'd get back together in between girlfriend/boyfriends and sometimes the situation couldn't wait until we were both in between...I fondly recall one such time, it was the spring of 1982, we were juniors at Liberty High School together...there was a swim party at a girl's house, I think her name was Abby - she lived right next to the 7-11 where me and my friends enjoyed playing pinball - and Jimmy Durner could last like an hour on one quarter playing Asteroids.  I was there so often, my mom would actually call there if she wanted me home for dinner.
    We swam and ate food at Abby's until around 11:00 p.m., Kim and I had a great time.  When Kim said she needed to leave, I, like a gentleman, offered to walk her the mile or so home.  It was a beautiful night, I remember holding hands with Kim and walking as slowly as possible to make the night last.  I remember how many stars were in the sky - Kim pointed out the Big Dipper and we made the constellation ours - often referring to it over the years, calling each other when we were apart to say we had just seen the Big Dipper and were just calling to let the other know...even to this summer, when we happened to be in our yard and she pointed it out to me and we shared a warm embrace and a kiss...
    When we got to her house, we kissed and said goodnight, not knowing when we'd get together again, but feeling happy, having had a nice night together...
    That Monday, when I got home from school, my Dad told me that my friend David Edwards had called me...I felt my stomach trying to come up through my throat - my Dad must have noticed me turning several shades of pale, because he asked 'Have I ever met David? Is he your friend?'...I told him, no, David Edwards was Kim's current boyfriend.  He was not only a senior, but on the football team.  I can't remember how big he was, but I was so little, he seemed Incredible Hulk-ish to me.  I kept as low a profile as I could the next few days, worriedly telling Kim in school that David was looking for me to 'talk' to me...it seems one of the girls at the party inadvertently told David about how much fun Kim and I had at the swim party.  How nice.  Anyway, David did finally catch up to me, I remember the terror I felt as he interrogated me that night.  Kim had told him that we were just good friends and that he had nothing to worry about and I avoided being beaten to a pulp!  David and I actually remained friendly after that episode over the years. Ahhh, it would have been worth the beating, having such a memory with Kim!
    
        Thanks for all of the well wishes and prayers for me and the bambini's...we have struggled, as we miss our Kimmy terribly.  It still seems like a bad dream that I cannot wake up from.  The bambini's won't leave my side, choosing to come with me on boring errands - but we make them fun, stopping for breakfast burritos, sharing our favorite 'mom' stories, etc...when we went to church today, to pass on a thank you to Father Harry for all of the support he gave our family, and the comfort he provided Kim, I remarked that I was taking some more time off from work (thank you my Barnes & Noble family!!), and we could make the 10 a.m. Mass regularly until I had to go back to work...little Antonio worriedly piped up 'who will watch us then Dad'...hopefully, by then these guys will know that I am here for them and that their southwest family will watch out for them, love them and care for them...they are such good kids, my tether to sanity right now...I love them so much...
         Thanks for letting me share these memories I have of Kimmy, too...I think it helps me keep her alive - and I know I tried to be a better person today, then I was yesterday...for her...
        Love,
                 Dave
    

9 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for sharing these stories of you and Kim! She was so amazing and still continuing to inspire people. I am also trying very hard to be a better person because of her. I think we should make some bracelets... WWKD? What would Kim do? :)

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  2. Today on the way home from work, I saw the most beautiful sunrise and my thoughts went to Kim. Her beauty and kindness well be in my heart and mind forever. Stay strong Dave. I love all the stories.

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  3. Again I laughed, I cried, but most of all I smiled as a result of your post. I truly am having a different Chritmas this year, because none of the stuff seems to matter. I am embracing my time with family, friends, etc... Thanks for the update on the Bambinis. They've been on my heart and in my prayers, along with you of course.

    I leave you with a quotation from Mother Theresa that so fits Kim to a T.

    Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.
    Mother Teresa

    With all our love,
    Jodi (for the whole McDonald family in TX)

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  4. Dave,

    Tonight Mary, Sarah, Nicole, Anabelle and I got together, and I can't even tell you how much of the conversation was about Kim. And like Sarah said, there were so many instances where one of us would say, "What would Kim Do?" She IS changing the way so many of us think, act and treat others. We all tried to be better people today. It's inspiring....

    I can't imagine how anxious the little kids especially must be about who will watch them. And I know you know this, but we are always willing to help out whenever! (You'll probably have so many offers you won't know what to do with them!) Anyhoo, another great love story...thanks for sharing! :)

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  5. :) Too cute, Dave!! Glad you didn't get whooped by the Hulk like senior. Great story! Your blog is like my morning coffee now!! :)

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  6. Thanks for sharing these blogs Dave. Kim has/is an inspiration. Thoughts and prayers to all of you.

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  7. I love that you carried her books and walked her home. You're such a great role model for your boys. You and Kim definitely had something special and rare. Thank you for opening your heart and sharing stories of Kim.

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  8. I really like the bracelet WWKD idea. I would buy one :-)

    Thanks again Dave for the updates on the family and fond memories of Kim. Thinking and praying for you guys daily.

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  9. Thanks Dave for sharing all that. You are a truly amazing person yourself!! I thought of you and the kids many times this weekend. We are here when and if you need us. You know I have the school pick up times down to a science. You just let me know my friend. And here is something I will do from now own until my own passing. I LOVE YOU MY FRIEND!! We don't say it near often enough.
    I will talk to you soon. God bless.

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