We were very fond of each other, even passionate in our adolescent way. If expectations had had their way, we might have married. Whether we would have stayed that way is an open question. The expectations were defeated by my own struggle with my sexuality. It was not to be if I was to be honest with myself and the world. But Kim and I remained very close - I would say soul-mates if I did not dislike the word. We are both Tauruses - stubborn as hell.
We continued to write, to visit each other: She made many visits to Canada and I to England where she had lived for a time. And Kim made a recent journey to our home, knowing she was dying. The cancer we all thought she had defeated ten years before came back with a vengeance. She made a difficult journey across two continents to say goodbye. It was a too brief visit. And a tearful goodbye. She died on July 19, less than six weeks later at home in Cape Town. She was a too young 61. Yet she faced her prognosis as she had met all of her life's challenges, with courage and grace.
Kim was vivacious, funny, determined and opinionated, moody, a wonderful listener, infuriating, a loyal confident and very religious and irreligious at the same time. I miss her greatly, not just the emails and cards, the telephone and more recently Skyping, but miss knowing that she is there, sitting in her lovely home or bravely protesting the proposed destruction of a precious wetland or planning another visit.
The world is a better place for having had her here. I am a better person for having been part of her life and she mine. Carpe diem!
