What Is a Kimpy?

What Is a Kimpy?

It's a fair question.

If you've ever sent me an email, spotted my car in a parking lot, or worked alongside me, you already know the answer. But for those of you who are new here, let me explain.

My name is Kim. A perfectly simple and uncomplicated name, albeit common.

Then I met Cecil.

Cecil was a little older than me, already navigating one of life's harder chapters, a marriage that had run its course, two kids who needed their dad, and a future that hadn't quite taken shape yet. But we found each other in the middle of it. 

There was just one small problem.

His ex-wife's name was also Kim.

She was Kim D. I was Kim P, (for my maiden name). When Cecil would talk about "Kim", Kim said this, Kim did that, the people in his life would stop and ask: which one?

Kim P. became Kimp. Kimp became Kimpy (pronounced Kimpee).

Cecil ran with it. It showed up on birthday cards, anniversary cards, notes written in the snow on my windshield, little notes left around the house… always Kimpy. Never Kim. What started as a way to keep two women straight became something that was entirely, uniquely mine.

It's on my license plate. It's in my email address. My coworkers use it. And now, it's the name of my website.

Cecil has been gone for sixteen years now. But Kimpy isn't going anywhere.

So… that's what a Kimpy is.