stigma, full circle

[zach]

ran into a really old friend today. a friend i haven't seen since i was dx'd. one of the many friends that simply disappeared.

he has hep c. really needed to talk about it, guess he figured since i'm poz i won't treat him the same way.

i didn't. it was good to see him really. this is the second old friend in the past few months that have reached out following their own dx for hep.

we hugged. he kissed me on the neck, hugged me, love you man...

so the kiss....  am i infected? should i get tested?

[Dan0]

Sometimes.....you are just not right!

[intaglio]

so the kiss....  am i infected? should i get tested?

Yes, you has de case o' de ironee, (or is it de onery?) Both are fatal if you live long enough.

Get help. I suggest you enlist the help of Dr. Demento. He has many musical resources online.

[zach]

dr demento's delights, wow, thats goes back a minute

really, i felt more like father sarducci taking confession, and trying not to give my buddy a bunch of smart ass commentary

[mecch]

I hope you didn't touch any doorknobs or toilet seats since that kiss or we are looking at a local epidemic.

[zach]

of course, now that peace has been made, he stops by at lunch to bum spare change for a beer... cause he's dt'n off oxy's

old friends, damn. not that it was easy, but i was able to kick cold, strange watching my friends from those years still struggle so hard. i fell hardest and farthest, but i think i've maintained and gotten back up better than most of them

[zach]

well that didn't take long. i knew this would happen. he's one of those guys you just completely have to cuss down to before they hear you. three times now he's shot up in my house. i gave him a ride once, had to insist he leave his kit. it was in his god damn sock. i could rant more. bottom line, my fault, i knew how this would go.

now i have to hurt feelings

[Jeff G]

Hi Zack ... I hope you stay strong and do not let this guy drag you down . I still have some of the same friends since 3 grade but over the years I have had to cut a few loose that refused to move forward in life . Its a painful thing to do but its self preservation and there is nothing wrong with that .

[zach]

same deal with me, friends from childhood. he lost his father young, the last ties i have with him are only respect for his dad.

no, he won't drag me down. i've had to back him up before. he's a risk to be around.

[Jeff G]

There were two times in my life that I tried to give a lift up to friends with drug problems only to fail and become worse off than they were . I'm a pretty strong guy with lots of will power but but this was a painful and expensive lesson for me about putting myself in harms way trying to do a good thing for somebody . I almost died the last time made this mistake so I think I finally get it now .

This is my own experience and probably has nothing to do with your situation so I was just sharing .