KING OF THE PILL


One waitress around the corner has mentioned some Volunteer Work she’s started. J. is a pretty, talkative, 23 yr. old woman, doing restaurant work in LA and acting. No surprise there. She trained last weekend for her Volunteer Work and yesterday told me she’s going to be a counselor at a Camp for children/teens with AIDS and their families.

She was thrilled because she was going to be a Group Leader for a group of girls ages 6-8. “Much easier than boys”, she tells me. The restaurant manager walks by and overhears us talking. “There are kids with AIDS?” he sincerely asks. J. rolls her eyes and emphatically answers “Uh, Yes.”

Later while Polly and I are sitting on the Porch, enjoying the sun and coffee, J. asks if I need anything. I sit up and smile at her.

“Yes, come here. There’s something I need to tell you. I have AIDS. For 21 years now. I want you to know how inspired I am by what you’re doing.”

No! J. exclaims You’re lying! You do not. Really?!

I appreciate the irony of her surprise. I pause and consider what kind of person would lie about something like that and why. I’m also surprised she seemed so unaware of my disease. Mine. It’s such a part of me, like being gay, I assume Everyone can see it. Pinned to my chest, a huge brooch with a ribbon given to me by the Royal Academy of AIDS.

J.’s next reaction was to lean over and spontaneously hug me. I briefly flashed on the photos of Lady Di hugging AIDS patients, shocking people at the time when Everyone was afraid, No one wanted to know. Even if J. had been “trained” her response, it was a smart and gracious one. I approved her practising on Me.

We then talked more about Camp and the kids. J. was to be in charge of Arts and Crafts. Decorate pill boxes! I immediately suggested. Get the kind that hold several days of pills and glue rhinestones and flowers on them! “That’s a cool idea”, she naturally agreed, “but not everyone at the Camp takes meds.”

Even better, I said. If Everyone at Camp has a Pill Box (and honestly, in the Big Picture, who doesn’t?) then having one won’t seem like a Big Deal.



1:11:10 PM    sro home /