World AIDS Day YouTube video by Richard Skipper Celebrates

I was so incredibly honored to be a part of the panel discussion.
www.youtube.com/live/bb5NH14...

I am honored to be doing a podcast with international talk show host Richard Skipper for World AIDS Day on my book, The Sea of Peroxide.

My kitty Marguerite and her "come hither" pose (just out of reach by 3" to force me off my chair to pet her). #Caturday is everyday.

This was the most difficult book I ever had to write. To do so, required me to dredge my #depression and #ptsd. My partners were heroic and most of my patients became angels.

I see Giuliani was pardoned. I well remember him from my #NYC #Paramedic days when he shut down #EMS. While I have no gripe against FDNY, I sometimes think the ex-mayor throwing EMS under the bus, so to speak, was a Karmic act that caused hair dye to flow and all his legal problems.

To all the #haters as we approach Veteran's Day. "We" were there too, and after, and after. Grateful.

I wrote this book to remember the #AIDS crisis and those of us who did our best to comfort the poor souls who were passing of the disease. It changed me. It changed everyone...except for an indifferent government and healthcare system. Avail. Amazon.com, paperback or Kindle.

No thanks, I'll pass.

Now available on Amazon.com, either paperback or Kindle.

I would hope so.

You there, stop scrolling already. Enjoy life. The same drivel will be here tomorrow.

In the beginning, they took sides, then it came for the self-righteous. As a #NYC #Paramedic during the #AIDS crisis I can safely share the dead and dying, regardless of their ego and politics looked identical. Regardless of faith, it was always gut-wrenching.

www.amazon.com/Sea-Peroxide...

Finally, a holiday I could learn to love!

That's very Tnice of you.

I like this!

Elephant?

Kindness does matter.

Remembering Tracey Allen Lee, #NYC #EMT while I was a #Paramedic. She passed of #AIDS after being cut, then exposed to blood on a call. Mayor and his hacks withheld benefits until #FDNY and union fought like hell for her. None of us were surprised by the gov't arrogance. Nothing's changed anywhere.

Now, as in the #AIDS era when I served as a #NYC #Paramedic, it was common to dismiss the poor and sick as inconveniences. Unfortunately, the lessons of the past have not been learned. My book on the era is not a time capsule, it is a warning.
www.amazon.com/Sea-Peroxide...

I hope it was good!

How much did the airport restaurant stick you for that?

did you just say that?

No thanks, I have Wing Chun tonight.

What a cutie!

I received a beautiful and heartfelt note from a social worker who specialized in treating #PTSD during the 1980s and 1990s. She understood. I wish the #healthcare system cared as much about #EMTS and #paramedics as she did. I wish our community still wasn't viewed as disposable.

Had minor eye surgery yesterday and it went well. What truly hurts (and I'm hardly the only one who notices this), the degree of #Ageism from technicians to nurses to physicians is absolutely astounding. They see a DOB and gray hair and assume you are excess baggage. So, why bother staying healthy?

Everyone, please remember to take at least one deep breath away from a digital device today. Hopefully, it will lead to several deep breaths.

This afternoon I witnessed a large tween or young teen bullying much younger, smaller kid. I asked the smaller kid if he was OK? Big kid looked at me, "Is there a problem?" Told him to move on. I Felt bad, like I shouldn't have done anything. Was I wrong? Or was I right to step in, say something?

Last evening, talked with man who lived through the #AIDS crisis while so many of his friends died. Became clear the #healthcare system simultaneously failed victims and EMS providers who met them at street level. Judgment continues to now. In past 2 weeks, I heard two diff. comedians mocking crisis

I am an old man. In my lifetime, spanning infinitely more years passed than ahead, I have never seen such divisiveness permeate every fiber of this country. I've become disenchanted and unimpressed with technology, social media and politics, if this is where we've all been led. #writingcommunity