Ten years ago today my childhood friend, Kevin Riggs, lost his battle with cancer. He was 20 years old. I just found out. I haven't fully processed it yet.
Growing up, I thought Kevin was the coolest guy I knew and the closest thing to a real life Zack Morris that I had ever met. Kevin had the right mix of cockiness and playfulness, he dated the prettiest girls, and he had the right So Cal look. I wanted to be him. Kevin pegged his pants, so did I. Kevin wore L.A. Gear, so did I. Anything I could do to mimic him, I would.
For his birthday one year he had a sleepover at his place. After his parents had gone to bed, we snuck out and went to a construction field close by. We played on the tractors and other construction equipment. Nothing destructive, but I told my mom about it (I was/am such a Momma's boy). She then mentioned it to Kevin's mom in a phone conversation later. Kevin got in trouble and my friends were reluctant to invite me over for sleepovers after that. Thanks, Mom.
I moved away from Kevin and my friends just after my freshman year of high school. I wasn't good about keeping in touch. Without the internet, email, Facebook, and the like, it wasn't easy to stay connected. I only spoke with Kevin a couple of times after I left Santa Maria. But I thought about him often.
After hearing the news about Kevin, I went home and pulled out my Jr. High yearbook, looking for Kevin's message he had left me over 16 years ago. On Page 11, I found it:
"Justin, I will always worship you! You're the MAN! Keep your grades up so you get in an expensive college and don't have to pay for it! Kevin Riggs"
I admittedly got teary eyed reading it.
Rest in peace, Kevin. I miss you, my brother.
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