Those were some messed up times. Being in NYC I saw alo of my friends from dance clubs start to fade away. When I meet my now husband we decide to pay for the test when you'd get the results in an hour. It was the longest and sweetest hour of my life. Pledging no matter what the outcome that we'd love each other and could weather any storm. We were lucky. Thanks for sharing this story.
Can’t believe he survived all of it and has gone on to help others. Talk about a testament to the human spirit. This is yet another example of how one should never assume anything about the future.
I can’t believe he tattooed wrinkles on his face— it gives me the creeps. Truly a real life horror story. But with a surprisingly happy enough ending! Also that must’ve been awful for you too. Being unsure if you are HIV positive or not at that time must’ve been terrifying.
Holy shit, Wilson. Arm-hairs stood up. I have a potent impulse to make you a cup of herbal tea and put a little blanket over your toes, but after reading that I think I’ll do both of those things for myself. Logistics, you see. Wow.
Wow. Terrifying and what a time to be alive! Many of the people in my parents' generation died of AIDS, including my half-sister's father Neil. His partner died in 1984 and Neil passed in 1995. Thankfully science and medicine have progressed to the point where this is a manageable condition; I have a friend who has been positive for 25 years with mostly perfect health. I studied HIV at Baylor College of Medicine (in Houston) from 1993 to 2000, trying to uncover some of the molecular facets of the virus lifecycle that might enable rational design of therapeutics. Glad that "James" is doing well these days.
Those were some messed up times. Being in NYC I saw alo of my friends from dance clubs start to fade away. When I meet my now husband we decide to pay for the test when you'd get the results in an hour. It was the longest and sweetest hour of my life. Pledging no matter what the outcome that we'd love each other and could weather any storm. We were lucky. Thanks for sharing this story.
Can’t believe he survived all of it and has gone on to help others. Talk about a testament to the human spirit. This is yet another example of how one should never assume anything about the future.
I can’t believe he tattooed wrinkles on his face— it gives me the creeps. Truly a real life horror story. But with a surprisingly happy enough ending! Also that must’ve been awful for you too. Being unsure if you are HIV positive or not at that time must’ve been terrifying.
That's great.
Holy shit, Wilson. Arm-hairs stood up. I have a potent impulse to make you a cup of herbal tea and put a little blanket over your toes, but after reading that I think I’ll do both of those things for myself. Logistics, you see. Wow.
Beautifully written, thanks for sharing.
Life seems so horrifyingly random at times. It's no wonder we need something beyond ourselves to grab on to. It virtually makes no sense otherwise.
Wow. Terrifying and what a time to be alive! Many of the people in my parents' generation died of AIDS, including my half-sister's father Neil. His partner died in 1984 and Neil passed in 1995. Thankfully science and medicine have progressed to the point where this is a manageable condition; I have a friend who has been positive for 25 years with mostly perfect health. I studied HIV at Baylor College of Medicine (in Houston) from 1993 to 2000, trying to uncover some of the molecular facets of the virus lifecycle that might enable rational design of therapeutics. Glad that "James" is doing well these days.
You are such a powerful writer. Glad that you both survived those terrible years.