What He Said

Chuck Grochmal (1952-1990)

by Gregg Rowe


Lots of people with AIDS
asked me for advice because
they heard I knew a lot about it.
But to be perfectly honest,
this is the first time I ever heard of it.

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Do you remember when you were in school and,
if you got half the answers right on an exam,
you passed the test?
Well, it's the same for doctors.
They can make a lot of mistakes
and they'll still be allowed to stick needles into you.

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For almost two years I've been pursuing all the hopes and dreams I'd been putting off
so that when I die it will be the ending of a full life...
I don't know if I'm going to make it.

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If you are infected,
there are things you should be doing
other than waiting around.
Perhaps you've heard of 'early intervention'.
This is when you need it.
Mention it to your doctor.
If he or she doesn't get excited,
you're in worse trouble than you thought.

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One of the benefits of AIDS dementia are the memory lapses.
No one ever has to remind me to forget the past.
This has been very handy when watching television...
I can watch re-runs again and again
and the endings are always a surprise.

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I've made it my business to spend my available energy in the most satisfying and productive ways.
I refuse to waste my time doing something I don't want to do...
Time is precious to me and quality time is the only time I have.

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Don't die from ignorance...
yours or the doctors.

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People never ask me how they can avoid getting AIDS.
I suppose they see me as a failure on that one.

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