It was also a strange experience to be writing this piece in San Francisco, as I thought a lot about the numbers of men who were affected in this city. Years ago, I went to a poetry reading and a man spoke about this while in tears, how much death he saw in this city during that epidemic years...
Wow yes, that’s the epicentre. Just before covid I was visiting a funeral home for research unrelated to AIDS. An old man was my guide and I didn’t realize that this funeral home was the only one in Toronto that would handle the bodies of those who had died of AIDS. And he was telling me about how they did all they could to treat them with dignity. He showed me the room where they were washed, equipment still there. He spoke with so much care and affection. I won’t ever forget him.
Hi Jo (sounds odd writing that, it’s my sister’s name 😂), I have yet to read this piece, I shall in a second, I just had to say that I clicked on your page and wow, I was blown away. This had to be one of the most visually appealing Substacks I’ve come across. I’m envious!
I’ll be sure to peruse your other stuff soon, I’ve got a nasty habit of having hundreds (!) of tabs open on my browser.
EDIT: I've read, it was lovely. Have you read any of Olivia Laing's books? I believe her latest (I haven't read) has a lot about Derek Jarman. The Lonely City (I have read) has a lot on AIDs in the 80s in NY.
Also wondering if you've seen It's a Sin, the British serial? That had me welling up throughout.
I have read The Lonely City. Olivia also wrote the forward for this book (Modern Nature, that is), and she wrote about how much his movies meant to her when she saw them on tv as a kid. Olivia also wrote a review of Constance Debrè's book for The Guardian, and it was quite special as she (Olivia) was raised by a lesbian mom, and Debrè's book was about a contentious divorce and child custody battle.
I live in San Francisco. I went a poetry reading a few years ago, and a gentleman was tears as he told us (the audience) about the effects of the AIDS epidemic on my city, the sheer numbers of men dying and a Reagan administration that seemingly didn't care.
This was great. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it - hope you like the book if you end up reading it.
This is just so sad but also so beautiful
It’s the only essay I’ve written for my Substack that made me want to cry.
Thank you.
You’re not alone. It made me teary.
It was also a strange experience to be writing this piece in San Francisco, as I thought a lot about the numbers of men who were affected in this city. Years ago, I went to a poetry reading and a man spoke about this while in tears, how much death he saw in this city during that epidemic years...
Wow yes, that’s the epicentre. Just before covid I was visiting a funeral home for research unrelated to AIDS. An old man was my guide and I didn’t realize that this funeral home was the only one in Toronto that would handle the bodies of those who had died of AIDS. And he was telling me about how they did all they could to treat them with dignity. He showed me the room where they were washed, equipment still there. He spoke with so much care and affection. I won’t ever forget him.
Hi Jo (sounds odd writing that, it’s my sister’s name 😂), I have yet to read this piece, I shall in a second, I just had to say that I clicked on your page and wow, I was blown away. This had to be one of the most visually appealing Substacks I’ve come across. I’m envious!
I’ll be sure to peruse your other stuff soon, I’ve got a nasty habit of having hundreds (!) of tabs open on my browser.
EDIT: I've read, it was lovely. Have you read any of Olivia Laing's books? I believe her latest (I haven't read) has a lot about Derek Jarman. The Lonely City (I have read) has a lot on AIDs in the 80s in NY.
Also wondering if you've seen It's a Sin, the British serial? That had me welling up throughout.
Oh, thank you! Your comment means a lot to me.
I have read The Lonely City. Olivia also wrote the forward for this book (Modern Nature, that is), and she wrote about how much his movies meant to her when she saw them on tv as a kid. Olivia also wrote a review of Constance Debrè's book for The Guardian, and it was quite special as she (Olivia) was raised by a lesbian mom, and Debrè's book was about a contentious divorce and child custody battle.
I live in San Francisco. I went a poetry reading a few years ago, and a gentleman was tears as he told us (the audience) about the effects of the AIDS epidemic on my city, the sheer numbers of men dying and a Reagan administration that seemingly didn't care.