Maybe it’s
the wine (it’s not), but I’ve had a nagging feeling since my last post because
I didn’t say how truly thankful I am for the most amazing man in my life,
Kevin. I’ll probably regret this post when I haven’t heard from him in three
days or he says something that slights my feelings over the phone when he
finally does call me. But, for now, I just want to see him the way I see him
when I’ve had time to be with him, the real
him.
(Us as not us: Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald for Halloween one year in New York City)
Just by
himself, Kevin gives me a whole new list of things for which I am grateful. He
helped me get my foot in the door to score my first job out of college. He gave
my résumé a massive
makeover; he coached and refined my interviewing skills; he even bought me the
fancy suit (complete with lavender top and sensible flats) I wore to all my
interviews. He has helped me make incredibly important decisions that I would
not have been able to make (at least, in the best and most informed way)
without his guidance. He is always, always
looking out for me with my best interest at heart. He is my Rock of Gibraltar.
He lets me know when I’m not doing
right by myself and/or by others. He inspires me to be as brilliant as he is
and to want to change the world positively, on a constant basis, as he does. He
makes me feel safe in a way I never have before. And it isn’t just because of
the perfect way he holds me when we sleep, the way we fit into each other like
puzzle pieces. I love how big his heart is. He is an amazing leader and
superhero, a wise teacher, and an incredible father and boyfriend, all at the
same time. As an old friend of mine once said, “He’s Armani Man!” (Practically
the only way to recognize him without looking at his face is by his Armani suit
and Pancaldi ties.) He is. And he’s so much more.
(Funny, because half of the above is true. Kevin graduated from Georgetown. Though I know his suits cost more…)
1)
He loves everyone I love. He cares about my
friends, about what they’re going through, about whether they’re okay. And when
they’re not, he helps me know what to say.
2)
Elaborating on my last point, he loves, and I
mean loves, Alpha Phi. NO, not because he’s interested in
drunken, slutty sorority girls (and that’s not
who we are, thank you), but because he understands how much Alpha Phi means to
me. At the first A Phi Red Dress Gala we attended, I was officially “outing”
him to some of my biggest critics, my sisters, for the first time. He had
bought me one of the most beautiful pairs of crazy-expensive stilettos I’ve
ever worn (red, of course), as well as the gorgeous, one-shoulder red dress for
me to debut at my first Red Dress Gala.
Was
I nervous? Maybe a little. But I was mostly going crazy just waiting for him to
arrive, because I was so unbelievably excited to see him and introduce him to
everyone. I knew that, despite the age difference – which seemed to be all
anyone could buzz about – that, once they saw the real deal, in person, they would
know: he was just as amazing and perfect as I’d said he was.
3)
I was right. He’s gone on to be the Eta Lambda
chapter of Alpha Phi’s most beneficent contributor. He’s been bestowed the honor
of being crowned an Ivy Man. He’s given thousands upon thousands of dollars to
our foundation, The Alpha Phi Foundation In Support of Cardiac Care. When he
bid and quickly won the live auction package for seven to go on a wine tasting in the middle of Nowhere, Virginia, he immediately told
me, “I don’t want us to go together. You’re a senior. This may be your last
time to be with all these girls at the same time,” he said, his eyes beckoning
to my sisters surrounding us. “Go have a girls’ day,” he instructed, before
booking a stretch limo for us to ride all the way out to Raphine, Virginia. And
then, when we figured out we still had the limo for much longer than we’d
originally anticipated needing it, Kevin made plans for us all to meet at a five-star
restaurant, where he bedecked the tables with a gazillion vases of roses,
asking each of us to take home as many as we wanted. He even bought out the bar
at my senior formal when he found out it was a cash bar. “Are you kidding me?
These girls are paying for their own drinks?
I’m taking care of this immediately…” I’m pretty sure that gave all of my of-age
sisters a whole new appreciation for him.
Whatever mark I’ve left on Alpha
Phi, his is indelible.
Alpha Phis at Rockbridge Winery
Kevin and me at Alpha Phi's Formal, 2009
Standing ovation for Kevin when he was crowned Ivy Man
4)
He is a true gentleman and a true romantic. And I
don’t say this lightly. Yes, there was a time in my life when I thought “being romantic”
simply meant opening the door for me and “being a gentleman” meant not vomiting
all over me after imbibing too much alcohol, or at least attempting not to
(this has actually happened). But BOY, was I wrong… Kevin pulls out the stops. Every single one, all the way down
to walking on the outside when we’re on the sidewalk or crossing the street to
making sure I have a stash of pistachios (my favorite snack) on the nightstand
on my side of the bed to giving me a bouquet of roses every single week.
5)
We practically have our own language. “Barnacling.”
“Braille.” “Love parroting.” “A baby” ( = bottle of wine). “Fishing.” Etc. He
even has his own special way of drumming his fingers on my legs during the House theme at the end of every episode.
6)
The man is a genius in the wine department. A
true genius. I don’t think that requires elaboration.
7)
He really does love me for me. He loves the
things I used to hate about myself but have come to love (or at least tolerate)
because he’s shown me how he sees me. He loves my quirks, my idiosyncrasies, my
weirdnesses – he loves a whole side of me I’ve never shown the rest of the
world, because I never felt comfortable enough to. He loves the toe on my right
foot that I hate. He loves what he calls my “giggle snort.” He loves the stubble
on my legs. Aaand…I won’t bore you with the rest… He always cooks for me – main
ingredient: “love.” (Cue the ‘ewwwww’s…) He even calls it “mate feeding,” which
I adore. (I know you’re all puking by now. Sorry.)
Now, you may be thinking that I
wrote this post entirely because of something especially awesome Kevin did in bed. And while you’re probably right, I
also just love the man with all my heart and I’m not afraid of saying so.
I love you,
Kevin.
xoxo,
Elizabeth Alida
why would an old guy spend so much money on a sorority
ReplyDeleteOne of the many nice things about growing up and becoming an adult is that you develop the social skills to prevent yourself from saying things that will be mortifyingly embarrassing. For example, calling somebody who is younger than 85% of the members of the U.S. Congress "old" is not only incredibly bad behavior, it also shows that you are too young to know how the world works. He's accomplished, well-off, and mature. By comparison, you appear to be a child.
ReplyDeleteP.S. What you think of as "so much money" is not in fact "so much money" to him. Think about that for a while. Also, he chose to give that money to a charity that actually saves lives.
You can go back to your video game in your mother's basement now.