Many years ago as a young adult I used to frequently talk on the CB radio on the north side of Chicago...I talked so much that I came to personally know quite a few people from the radio...We had people on there with all sorts of names Some of those names were Party Animal, Rocker, Stranger & Snuggles...All of us used to hang out @ the Dunkin Donuts parking lot on Addison & Elston...They were some of my best memories I have...None of us were in any gangs or nothing like that...We just enjoyed each others company & had many of laughs with each other...But there was this one person in our group that I personally came very close to...The name he went by was Mystery Man(Kevin)...We talked many times on the radio & finally we met up one day...Little did I know that one meeting would amount to such a great thing...Almost on a daily basis I would drive to Kevin's home & pick him up...We'd cruise around the area tracking others down that were talking on their radio...After we tracked them down,We'd talk to that person a bit...Then go on a merry way...Kevin & myself together so much...People started thinking we were brothers...Because when ever one was some place..the other was there also...Well in out endeavors of tracking people down...Occasionally we'd track down some female that we were talking to...One time we tracked this particular female down..She went by the name sparkles...Well we met her one day & it turned out to be some 14 year old girl...Kevin & I were laughing @ each other telling each other...Damn we can probably go to jail for just talking to this kid...Well upon meeting Sparkles we also met her older sister Sandra...We all started talking on a regular basis..At some point Kevin & myself started to really like Sandra...She was a skinny blond about 5.5 & couldn't weight any more than 100 #'s soaking wet...She was a very sweet person...But also had a mean streak...When she got her attitude on..She was 100#'s of Piss & Vinegar...Well Both of us started hitting on Sandy...I would drive over there & her & I would talk for a while...Kevin would come by also & she'd get this dirty look on her face...Little did I know those dirty looks were just a ruse...Sandy started to have feelings for Kevin...Now normally in these situations when 2 guys that are friends start to pursue a woman...One persons feelings get hurt & the friendship disolves..Well that didn't happen in this case....Kevin won the courtship of Sandy & because I valued his friendship...I stepped aside never mentioning it again...Yes my feelings were hurt a bit...But life went on...We all came to be extremely close friends...So close that when I was in the Emergency room one night with a concussion from some STUPID DRUNKEN act I did...Kevin asked Sandy to marry him while they were waiting for me to come out of the ER...Well Kevin & Sandy eventually got married & had children together...Let's fast foreward a few years now...Kevin Sandy & myself continued to see each other...On special occasions I would take the trip to their home near the Illinois Indiana border for birthdays & baptismals , etc,etc,etc...Well by the fall of 1993,I had a couple children of my own...kevin & myself were drifting apart a bit...Just like what happens in many friendships...Well in the spring of 1994 something very tragic happened in my life...My 6 month old daughter was shot...Well with all that was happening in my life @ that time with the hospital,doctors & court...Kevin and I drifted apart & stopped contacting each other...Now here we are March 18th 2008...I was thinking about Kevin..So I do a quick search for him on the net & come up with a couple of phone numbers all in the name of Sandra...So I ask myself if I should call...Well finally I call the number & it turns out this is the wrong number...The number is to an elderly couple in a south suburban home...I apologize for taking up their time & hang up the phone...Well I call the 2nd number & get an answering machine...And to my surprise the voice on the answering machine was that of Sandy...I didn't want to leave a message...So I waited until later on that Wed night to call back...Around 7:00 pm on Wed night I call back & someone answers the phone...It wasn't Sandy so I just asked for Kevin...The Woman on the other end asks me if I wanted to talk to Kevin Sr or Jr..I was a little taken back for last I saw of Kevin & sandy they only had 2 children & neither was a boy...So I answer Kevin Sr...The voice on the other end proceeds to say he's deceased...I said what???I didn't know how to take this information @ first...After all he was only a year older than me & I'm currently 40 soon to be 41...I don't exactly remember what I said after that..But somewhere in the brief conversation I asked how he died...Where I was informed he died back in 2004 from Leukemia...I asked for Sandy & was told she wasn't home...So I left my name & number for sandy to call me back...The following morning Sandy called me back...I was a little surprised she did considering that her & myself had a little bit of a strained relationship...Turns out she was just as nervous about calling me back as I was originally calling her & Kevin...Well Sandy begins to tell me what happen to Kevin & how fast this terrible disease took him...We talked for hours yesterday morning about Kevin,His condition & the enjoyable past we had...We laughed many times remembering things we all did together...Sandy & myself cleared the air of any problems with the relationship...she explained a few things to me that I never knew back then...Which is the case in all families...Outsiders just aren't privy to some things...And last night it hit me that someone that was very dear to me was gone...I was talking to my wife about things we did as young adults in our early 20's...When during our conversation I just had to walk away & be by myself...I regret losing contact with Kevin & his family...It was unfortunate circumstances that created the drift between us...But as a friend I could've tried to contact him sooner...I can take comfort in knowing than in his passing he was surrounded by people that not only that he loved..But loved him in return...It's a little tough to write this blog entry..Even as I type this out remember Kevin...A tear will occasionally run down my cheek...Kevin is survived by his Wife Sandy & their 4 children... May you rest in peace Kevin & enjoy your after life...Now I'm wondering if Kevin is ever going to help these Cubs win a WS???
We miss you very much my friend..
Rich
