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A TRAMPOLINE. That's where it all started. It is hard to believe and yet at the same time
it is very ironic too. A crazy meeting place and an even crazier relationship. Don't get me wrong. It was a relationship full of love and a ton of happiness.
When Ryan first approached me about the prospect of seeing Keith, my initial reaction
was"Keith? Keith Warsing? But he is so....Shy!!" All Ryan did was laugh at me and say, "You don't know Tiny very well then do you?" Curiousity adn those rugged good looks
of his got the best of me, so I decided to pursue the relationship. And I'm so glad that I
did. Knowing Keith and dating Keith filled me with memories that will last me forever.
When Keith and I first got together I was going through a hard time. My parents, who had been together for 20-some years, had decided to seperate. I was devastated. Ironically. it
was the first weekend that my mom moved out that Keith and I became an "official couple." He pulled me out of the depressed slump uponn which I was falling into; he helped me smile and laugh, and most importantly, through him, I found the truest love I've
ever known.
The first six months of our relationship dealt with Keith and I dealing with my home-life
problems. But the next six months that followed were GREAT! They were worry free;
our only concerns were things like what race track are we going to this weekend? Or
where are we going to party tonight? Normal teenage issues are what we dealt with and
we entered into a world full of first experiences. It was great. I took Keith to the beach
for the first time, and we rode on an airplane together too. He showed me some of the
best racing spots , he took me to my junior and senior prom, and he introduced me to a wonderful love. Before we knew it we were celebrating our first anniversary.
Very directly, Keith started aching and dropped weight. We knew that something was
wrong, but we didn't know what or where to start looking. Finally a colonoscopy was ordered for him. A blockage was found. Next day, he and his parents went to the hospital
and I went to school like normal. I'll never forget that day or the dreaded phone call that I recieved from his mom.
I was at Keith's house with his sister Kim, waiting for Keith, Ken, and Kathy to come home from the hospital. I remember the time-3:30. I was watching a really great episode of Guiding Light.Blake was in the midst of tellling Ross another one of her secrets that she is forever
keeping from him. And then she called. "Tara, I need you to come to the hospital. Keith
is asking for you. He needs to talk to you about something." Things couldn't be good. I knew
that. "Do you want me to bring Kim with me?" After a short pause she said, "Please." Kim
and I headed to the hospital. I remember getting off the elevator feeling scared. When I saw
Kathy with tears in her eyes, I wanted to be sick. "Go back to see Keith, he needs to talk to you." I headed back to the first door on the left and there he lay. "Come here," he said with
his out-stretched hands. I was crying and so was he. "What's wrong Keith?" In a small, yet
knowing voice, he replied, "Honey, I have cancer." Talk about devastation. I leaned into him
and we just cried. After a while, he said, "It's time to get me out of here. Take me home."
That car ride to his house was the longest one in history. I remember coming down hospital
hill; me driving and allowing the tears to stream down my face, Keith tomy right just holding
my hand, and Kimberly in the back seat just staring out the window. All I recall was thinking
"This is going to be rough, but we all love each other, and somehow, someway things are
going to be O.K."
The rest of the story goes down in history as we went to numerous doctors appointments,
and chemotherapy treatments which eventually ended i hospice care.
Throughout it all, Keith was a fighter. He was dedicated and loyal to me and his family. He
made everyone feel special. He truly was a wonderful person. Above all, he was my lover,
my confidant, and most importantly he was my best friend. And he will never forgotten. |
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