Thank you Michael. I tried to write something similar the other day. I'm not a very good writer so I gave up.
I'd just like to add that it wasn't just San Francisco, NY and L.A that were like a warzone, it was the same here in central Michigan. I lost over 100 friends.
I think the hardest day was when Phil had to be taken to the hospital and we had to drive him to a hospital 90 miles away because none of the local hospitals would let him in.
You're welcome John. I have a tattoo of a pink triangle in a biohazard symbol on my arm to remember those days. I remember being in the room of a friend in San Francisco General when the biohazard symbol was on the door and people were afraid to go into the room with out a mask and gloves. I'm really glad to this day that I never wore any of that stuff.
We've talked about this - yes, I'm sure it was just as awful back in Michigan - in fact probably worse. My friend Jim, the first on that list, died in Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. They were still doing the masks and gloves at the time.
One of the really horrible memories I have from that time was being in the Castro and seeing a guy (who had to be in his 30s or 40s) with a walker trying to get across the street before the light changed while the impatient drivers honked and gunned their engines.
I'm really, really glad that those days are behind us here - but I know they are not in other places.