I guess I'm a little biased since he was my uncle, but I'm wondering where I can get a copy now. It was so powerful to watch and said a lot about the early Aids epidemic in the 90's. There weren't drugs like we had today, and it shows the stigma where those with Aids were treated like lepers and ostracized. I can remember one part where my Grandma Katy, his mother was just ignorant and didn't know any better. Can you imagine not being able to take care of your own son in his last days at your house because the other condo owners were so scared if he used the pool they'd have to drain it.
How awful to finally be educated years later when your son is gone, and live with that guilt! I know it bothered her, but we didn't know any better back then. He was such an amazing man in so many ways, despite his promiscuous lifestyle. Some of it is the dark side of the gay culture, and a lot of it in my opinion is just the feeding of the ego/addictive tendencies that run deep in our Irish Catholic family.
Regardless, I think anyone at the age of possible sexual activity should watch this documentary. It shows the heinous progression of this disease in such honesty I understand now why my parents would not let me see him in his last days. It broke my heart not to be able to say goodbye, but I still feel him around me sometimes.
The lessons in this documentary are profound, I keep finding meaning in it years later as an adult dealing with the cold side of human nature. Where even his many admirers where not there in the end to take care of him. Family was there, and that's why despite what anyone says I still believe family is the most important resource we have.
There's an unspoken obligation to get past hurt and anger to take care of each other when it's really needed. For this I am grateful. Tom came from a big family of 8 brothers and sisters and was the 5th. Fittingly in middle child style he made a name for himself, my favorite memory of him was when he would break out into show tunes in his strong Broadway style voice. It was something to see, and I'll never forget him!
How awful to finally be educated years later when your son is gone, and live with that guilt! I know it bothered her, but we didn't know any better back then. He was such an amazing man in so many ways, despite his promiscuous lifestyle. Some of it is the dark side of the gay culture, and a lot of it in my opinion is just the feeding of the ego/addictive tendencies that run deep in our Irish Catholic family.
Regardless, I think anyone at the age of possible sexual activity should watch this documentary. It shows the heinous progression of this disease in such honesty I understand now why my parents would not let me see him in his last days. It broke my heart not to be able to say goodbye, but I still feel him around me sometimes.
The lessons in this documentary are profound, I keep finding meaning in it years later as an adult dealing with the cold side of human nature. Where even his many admirers where not there in the end to take care of him. Family was there, and that's why despite what anyone says I still believe family is the most important resource we have.
There's an unspoken obligation to get past hurt and anger to take care of each other when it's really needed. For this I am grateful. Tom came from a big family of 8 brothers and sisters and was the 5th. Fittingly in middle child style he made a name for himself, my favorite memory of him was when he would break out into show tunes in his strong Broadway style voice. It was something to see, and I'll never forget him!