While I have alluded to his presence in my life some years ago, I have never actually written about Kevin on my blog. When we met for the first time he was the first person I had met through the internet. He lived about an hour away and was around 10 years older than me. I had never travelled to meet a man before and wasn’t even sure why I was meeting this one. He turned out to be kind, gentle and a good listener.
Kevin was originally from the North of the country, a former teacher turned local politician. He was a committed socialist, our values were similar, though several degrees to the left of mine. Kevin was married, he said his wife was busy doing her own thing and that she had also strayed. He was looking for a bit of fun. I wasn’t sure what I was seeking, but for a while Kevin filled the gaps in my life.
Over the course of a couple of summers we met every few weeks, for lunch and then a kiss and a cuddle. This often took place in a field or wooded area in the countryside. He fancied me like mad and touched me a lot. He gave amazing orgasms both with his hands and tongue. I hadn’t experienced the like before. Recently diagnosed diabetes has rendered him impotent, so much so that he was unable to get and erection. So he made every encounter about me.
Gradually we drifted apart. He definitely had other women, given he accidentally sent me the wrong text more than once. Plus he worked / volunteered crazy hours as a local politician, especially during elections. Then I met S and I told Kevin that I thought it best we didn’t meet any more. He was gracious and we continued to text each other on birthdays and Christmas. But I didn’t see Kevin after summer 2012.
A year or so ago, a message appeared on facebook saying he had been diagnosed with cancer and was about to start treatment. He was a long term smoker, perhaps I wasn’t massively surprised by the news. I texted to send good wishes and then when I received my own diagnosis I texted again and we exchanged a few words of encouragement to each other. I never heard from him again.
This week I decided to drop him a line to check how he was. I didn’t receive a reply. Today I googled him and discovered he died at the beginning of May. He was well known in his home town and so I found details of the death, funeral and a memorial service in his honour. A public occasion attended by 500 people. clearly a testimony to the man he was.
Kevin was a guy I knew for a while. He was kind and funny, passionate and loving. I don’t know if his wife knew of the other women in his life, my husband at the time certainly didn’t know. I am proud to have known him and sad that this is the only place I can say goodbye to him.
Thank you for sharing this story, Julie. He seems like he was a nice guy and it’s kind to give him a special place on your blog.
Rebel xox
… brief as it may have been, it seems he made a positive impact on your life …
sorry for your loss, Julie … nj
Sometimes it’s intereting to look back and see how people impacted our lives. This seems lke a very positive interlude in your life.
It must be scary meeting someone over the internet for the first time so it’s good that he was so kind. I’m sorry the loss that his passing brings.
What a lovely tribute to him Julie. I am glad you knew him too – people pass thru our lives for a reason – that is for sure x
This is a sweet story. Funny how people come and go in our lives but when they are good people they always linger in some way
Mollyx
I love the line that he filled the gaps for you. We don’t always know the impact people have (or that we have on them) until much later…if ever.
This is a beautiful eulogy for someone who clearly touched your life in a positive way. ?
I’m so sorry for your loss. He sounds like a very special guy. Thank you for sharing!