Boots posted this a bit ago in the comments of this post.
"Here's the thing: My doctor is more concerned about my cholesterol than my CD4 count. It is stable and I am asymptomatic, so why mess everything up by taking a bunch of pills that not only may not work, but may lose effectiveness over time (as the virus mutates) and that will certainly cause side effects that will be noticable?
I think the thing that irritates me about people asking me about my health is that I feel singled out when anyone at any time can get sick or die suddenly.
NEWSFLASH: Life is FRAGILE. It is to be treated with the utmost respect and reverence. I can't allow my friends to mourn something that hasn't happened yet and I don't want all of the attention to be shifted on me when tragedy could strike anyone.
Please do not misunderstand me. A) This is not directed at Judy. Quite the opposite. And, B) I am very grateful of the fact that I am surrounded by so many generous and thoughtful people, especially Judy and other friends like her. However, I do have a few friends, mostly ones that live far away and that I talk to on a more infrequent basis, who consistently ask me about my "health".
Don't do that. Nobody asks a 30-something about his health. That's what you do with your parents and grandparents who are pushing 60, 70 or beyond. I know you think you're being helpful, thoughtful or sensitive, but you're not. I can manage my own health and, when something finally does go wrong, I P-R-O-M-I-S-E I will let everyone important to me know.
It is truly enough that I, myself, do not know if I will make it to 40. Or 50. That f___ing sucks. But, it is 1,000 times more painful to think that all of my friends worry about this for me. All I want is for my friends and family to be there to share the happiness and sadness as it comes. If I passed away tomorrow, I would leave this Earth knowing I led a good life, had the best friends, I loved and was loved in return, and that I was the best person I could be."
---------
No song this time. Boots' words stand alone.
Posted by Judy at July 30, 2006 03:34 AMGood post. I did want to hear his thoughts on it and am glad he wrote this. Life IS precious and I wish more people realized that.
Posted by: Brad at July 30, 2006 04:47 AM