Richmond, Kentucky~ May 5, 2002

The RiverKeepers fundraiser consisted of a silent auction, pre-dinner hor d'vourves, and dinner. After the dinner, key note speakers; several local personalities, Kevin and Mr. Robert Kennedy Jr, spoke about the enviroment and what we can do to reclaim it.
RiverKeepers is an organization that is dedicated to keeping the Kentucky River clean and usable for generations to come.
Now that you have some background to the fundraiser, let me tell you how the night went....

 I get there a few minutes late after dropping off the kids and driving through traffic, I was calm.    It wasn't a big deal at that point cuz it was just a free show at the planetarium on Mars. Was really cool.   When that was over we walked across the quad to the Perkins Building where we had an opportunity to bid on auction items. A few neat things but way outta my price range. No Kevin at this point....I was disappointed. 
They announce dinner and I'm thinking...Yes finally! I'll get a glimpse of Kev. There were tables marked for corporate sponsers and then around those were the tables for everyone else. So we grabbed one as close to the stage as possible. (Turns out it was the best seat in the house!) Still no Kev.

A few minutes later, the director of RiverKeepers announces that Kevin, Robert Kennedy Jr and Dr. Banks (the professor who set the evening up) would be late. They had charted a plane to Eastern Kentucky to check out the strip mines. Something was said about a missed flight so I'm thinking that Kev's not gonna be there after all. But then she says that Kev originally intended to be there to mingle with everyone before dinner, but had decided to stay later to greet and talk to people. I was sitting on cloud nine!

Then in walks Robert. Very charismatic. He has an awesome prescense and he's very kind and nice. I'm still looking for Kev and by now, we'd already had soup, salad and they were beginning to bring out dinner. Still no Kev. Then just before they served our table Kevin walks in. OH MY GOD!!!! I wanted to scream the place down like a teeny....but instead I pinched hubby's leg...poor thing He's gonna be bruised lol

SO I'm watching him walk through the room to his table and never noticed Kristin or his mom, at least not until later. I decide to eat that $45.00 dinner I paid for and relaxed, talking to our table mates and dwayne. Then the speeches start...first four were okay...Dr. Banks, the president of EKU and then her daughter and then an eighth grader who won a story contest on the Kentucky River...poor girl was so shy she couldn't read her story and had her teacher do it. Cute story. 
Then the daughter of the pres got back up and introduced Kevin, telling us all how he grew up in Kentucky and how he started JWR, by the time Kevin came up onstage, he was in tears. Made me wanna hug him. He spoke for a few minutes, saying how he was now living in LA and that he didn't get to come home very often, but being here this weekend and flying to the eastern part of KY made him realize what a beautiful state KY really is. (He's still crying at this point) Then he says, I don't know why I'm so emotional and I wanted to hug him again. (had a tear or two myself)

Then Kevin introduces Robert and he sits down. Now you have to picture this.... my table is on the far left of the room with two tables seperating my table and Kevin's. I had finished eating so I pushed back from the table and got comfortable. From where I sat I had a perfect view of Kevin. Lord a Mercy! Thank God that room was crowded and we're both married lmao!  Anyways, while Robert is talking, I'm secretively watching Kev. and while I am, he turns his head and he looks at me!!! I shake it off thinking that he's just looking around the room. So I keep an ear on Robert and an eye on Kev and he looks again. still not making much of it. Then he does it again. And I begin to think... Nah not a chance, he's just getting comfortable.

Then hubby leans over and says 'he's watching you,' so now I know I'm not imaging it. For an hour and fifteen minutes this goes on. When Robert's done, I excuse myself...gotta call and check on the kids. Now mind you, outwardly I'm calm cool and very collected. Inside I'm a ball of nerves. I can't remember how to use the stupid phone lmao!  I run to the bathroom and when I come back Dwayne is having a cow. What I ask and then he says, hurry! Kevin's taking pictures with people. So we walk over and stand next to him. Kristin says something to him and he leaves. I wanted to cry! Hubby tries to talk to Kristin and she turns her back on him.... really pissed hubby off. I just grabbed his hand and said come on. let's get your pic of Robert. (Dwayne really likes the man) 
After I snap a couple of pics of Robert for hubby, they shake hands and we get ready to leave. I'm not too upset, cuz I know I'll see him tomorrow, but there's a part of me that really wanted to have my pic taken with him on my b-day. We had just stepped out of the room and I almost walked into him. He was standing out there talking to two older women, so I spin back around and tell hubby, "I left something at the table, I'll be right back."

Now I really didn't leave anything at the table, I just needed a minute to collect myself. Close encounters of the first kind take nerves of steel and I just wasn't ready lol.

So while I'm gone, hubby's snapping pics of Kev. When I come back, Kevin's back in the room and standing just inside the door. Dwayne calls to me and I walk over and then he turns to Kevin and says "Kevin, would you mind if I take a picture of you and my wife? It's her birthday"

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"  I almost scream. My cheeks were bright red and I swear I stopped breathing cuz Kevin smiled at me. "Happy Birthday" he says and I say thank you.

He goes to give me a hug and I put out my HAND!!! Hello I put out my hand. You can officially call me Dumb Ass. Howie has absolutely nothing on me now! LMAO DumbAss is now my name.

So anyways, Kev pulls me to his side and puts his arm around my shoulders and I put my arm around his waist....dear lord the man is heavenly. He smells good(his smell is on my shirt!) and he's filled back out. He looked so good and healthy and I swear I'm never washing that shirt again. Do you know that his smell seeped through my shirt and is now on my skin? And the best part is that it isn't over yet! Today, May 6, I'll see him again. He'll be at the dedication for the RiverKeepers and so will I!

RiverKeeper Pics