This weekend i am participating in the AIDS Walk New York. It's probably the 8th year that i'm walking, the tradition having started when i was in college. At the time, my best friend, Jenn, and i thought it would be a great way to meet men (i would pick up the available and socially concious single gay men and she would get the sensitive gay-friendly hetero variety). while neither of us ever left with anything more than leg cramps or a slight sunburn, we always had a good time nonetheless.
like most traditions it's lasted and has taken on new meanings with time. Jenn is now a fabulous Chemistry Teacher/Married Lady in Bordentown New Jersey and hasn't been able to make the walk the last 2 years (family stuff, etc). She's always good for a donation, though and that's what really matters (though i have to confess: i really do miss the quality Jenn-David time that AWNY afforded us...but that's another entry for another day). Stephen, being the Worlds Best Boyfriend (henceforth known as WBB) has agreed to accompany me again, despite his discomfort/dislike for walking around Central Park for 4 hours.
i, on the other hand, have stopped going there to meet guys (i realized after the 1st year that when one is huffing and sweating at 8am is no time to be thinking of love). now i go because i honestly believe in what the Walk represents. I'm walking to raise money for AIDS resarch and support organizations. I'm walking because the government still doesn't give a flying shit what happens to fags who dies of AIDS (red ribbons have fallen out of vogue, replaced by yellow). i walk because i still hear about the rumors of what happens when queers donate blood. i walk because even though 8 years ago i didn't know a single person who was HIV+, now i know several. I walk because i had more than my fair share of scary experiences, waiting for a blood test to come back; praying that despite my many indiscretions and dalliences i would walk away unscathed. since i am negative, despite the debauchary of my youth, i owe quite a tremendous karmic and cosmic debt, which i'm hoping the Walk is helping to knock off (it's not guilt i feel, it's more a sense of thankfulness). i walk because i feel so shallow at my job; i work in an industry where i truly feel like i'm putting nothing of any worth out into the world/universe/cosmos that somehow i have to make an effort to be a good person.
hopefully this sunday will be as nice as the last couple have been. i'm sure i sent you an e-mail asking for a donation, and if you were able to: Thanks :-) i really do appreciate it. if you weren't, no hard feelings (we all have our own charities that we contribute to, and i'm sure you have yours. as long as it's not the Re-Elect George W Bush campaign, i'm all for it!). if you do still want to make a donation, you can e-mail me for the info or just hit up the link (the title) above.
have a good weekend :)
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