I met Kevin 18 years ago today. If he were here, he would roll his eyes and pretend to remember. But I remember the day as if it were yesterday. And he did too though he didn't admit it very often.

I was working in DC for the Communications Company - at that time headed by Bob Squier and Carter Eskew - I was the office scheduler and personal assistant to Bob and Carter...but I digress. Please also note that at this point of the story Kevin would be paying more attention to the Yankee game so feel free to go about your business 'cause this may take me a while.

The political director - a guy named Tom - said to me Friday afternoon that a bunch of people were meeting at the Circle Bar at the newly renovated Willard Hotel - this is 1986 - and that a couple of friends from New York were down for the weekend. A couple of high school buddies were moving a guy named Mike down to the area - Silver Spring I think. I remember thinking I was going to pass - the Circle Bar was the yuppie place to go and I was not into it - but for some reason I decided to go anyway.

I walk into the lobby of the Willard and see Tom sitting there. Sitting next to him -- on an antique desk of all things -- was a tall, slim guy with long feet and most of the hair on top of his head missing. But he had amazing eyes and a cocky, great smile. Now I'm not sure I noticed all of this in the first few seconds -- I remember mainly thinking "who the hell does this guy think he is that he can sit on a 200-year old desk?" So I said hello to Tom and Tom introduced me to Kevin.

We didn't stay long at the bar and everyone headed over to Dupont Circle to a relatively new restaurant called the Odeon Cafe. Kevin ended up sitting next to me at dinner and I remember he sat like he was in his living room - his arm slung over the back of my chair and his long legs stretched out to the side, crossed at the ankles. I don't remember what we talked about but I do remember walking to my car - I was giving him and his friends a ride to the Bottom Line for a nightcap - and I turned and looked at him and said "has anyone ever told you you look a lot like William Hurt?" I don't remember his answer. But I do remember his smile - and I turned and walked ahead and I knew he was watching me. The rest is history, as he'd say.