One of the biggest goals of my little blog is simply to make people laugh. I know that sounds simple. Maybe it is. But I met Kim twelve years ago, and from our very first conversation until the day we lost her, she made me laugh. Every single day.
We lost Kim very suddenly nine years ago. After two years of planning this site, I finally understood why what she taught me—and what she meant to so many people—was important enough to build something around. Kim taught me something without ever sitting me down and giving me a lecture about it: one of the simplest and most important things we can do for each other is make each other laugh.
We can listen. We can talk. We can help. We can disagree. We can share our stories. We can learn new things. Sometimes, for five seconds—or two seconds—or twenty seconds—we can make another human being laugh.
A close friend. An acquaintance. A stranger. And laughter is free.It doesn't take money. It doesn't require a grand gesture. Sometimes all it takes is a ridiculous story, a profound truth about the world—or about something you suddenly recognize in yourself—a perfectly timed comment, or an absurd observation that pops back into your head a week later and makes you laugh for five seconds in a crowded elevator.
Kim's Warriors will have serious stories. There will be depth, difficult conversations, opinions, questions, and, hopefully, one day, a real community.
WHOEVER you are? Welcome. I hope we inspire each other, too. But if, somewhere along the way, one of my stories makes you laugh, I'd love to hear about it. And maybe you can make me laugh, too. I hope you will.
As an older guy, I sometimes remember those amazing evenings with close friends—maybe a little wasted, sitting beside a roaring fire, laughing, singing, supporting one another, and sharing stories and secrets. Sometimes those moments feel like a thing of the past. In many ways, we have become isolated, even while spending more time than ever talking with people online around the world.
What I hope is that, with time, we can recreate some of that feeling—the trust, laughter, connection, and sense of community. Maybe we can build new friendships, share our stories, support one another, and create something that feels a little like those unforgettable nights around the fire.
This blog is dedicated to the memory of my wife, Kim. Kim wasn't perfect. She knew it, acknowledged her mistakes, and took responsibility for them. But what she gave the people around her was something remarkable. Those who knew her well came to call the wisdom, humor, honesty, and perspective she shared her “Kim-isms.”
People came to Kim to celebrate their successes, but just as often they came when life had gotten messy. They trusted her to listen, help them sort through what was happening, and offer an honest perspective—always with love.
Once, a former coworker Kim had known for only two months called her at 4 AM after moving away and finding herself in an abusive situation. Kim didn't hesitate. She helped get her friend to safety that morning, then flew from Boston to El Paso later that day so she could bring her home and help get her safely back to her family.
That was Kim. As her husband, I was fortunate to see another side of her—the woman behind those stories. I have plenty of stories of my own about the things she said, the things she did, the ways she made me laugh, and the ways she could completely surprise me.
I'll be sharing some of those stories here, too. KimsWarriors (I believe what we should all aspire to be) is an attempt to carry a little of that spirit forward. This is a place for real stories from real people. Stories about mistakes, victories, grief, starting over, difficult days, ridiculous moments, hard lessons, and everything in between.
There is no judgment here. No requirement to have everything figured out. Just an open virtual fire where you can pull up a chair, share your story, listen to someone else's, laugh when we can, and maybe find a little comfort in knowing that you're not the only one who's been there.
Kim often called me her warrior because of everything life had thrown at me. She admired my resilience, my strength, and my ability to support her.I didn't—and still don't—deserve that title alone.
But the idea behind it is what matters: listening to each other, recommending solid ways to navigate hard times, drawing from our own experiences or what we've learned, and, just as importantly, celebrating, laughing, and cheering each other on.To become Kim's collective warriors—that's the goal here.
Welcome to KimsWarriors.
Let's remember each other and, together, have a great time building something different. Even if it has to be online? Something real.