Kari Kennedy: My Distant Horizon

Chasing the Horizon

I’ve been asked to say a few words about a very special woman who I, regretfully, have neglected since the birth of The Daily Rice. So I’d like to forego the usual self-aggrandizing and vainglorious promotion for now, and commit a few words about one of my great friends: Ms. Kari Kennedy.

There are few times in life that mere words are simply not enough to harness, or encapsulate, the nature of such a wonderful woman. This, I’m afraid, is one of them. To know Kari is to feel the sun, and when she is around her beauty, intelligence, kindness, and charm warm your soul. When she is gone, however, it can be very cold.

My favorite thing about Kari is her ability to make you feel accepted and good about yourself. She exudes confidence and a natural ability to make others comfortable around her, which these days, seems to be a diminishing quality.

I’ll never forget the first time I met her, for that would mean forgetting how to breathe. Over coffee with the equally fabulous Corrie Nelson, Kari graced us with her presence. What followed was a 10 minute meditative monologue on the nature of dating and the post modern condition.

I found myself enraptured in the blissful whirlwind of her musings, which oscillated between humorous and poignant. She left me reeling, and more importantly, wanting to begin living life.

Later that week, I had a nervous break down of sorts and called my parents at three o’clock in the morning, criticizing them for not conceiving me six years earlier. Tragically my belated entrance into the world leaves Kari, who is six years my senior, just out of reach, a fact I struggle with every passing day.

Kari is like a splendid distant horizon, and while I may never reach her, she will always be burning softly inside my heart.