Joe embarked on a Sabena Airways jumbo jet in Atlanta. On its stopover in Boston, Karen and I would board. I met Karen at Logan Airport; she had flown from Newark; I had taken a boat/bus from Martha’s Vineyard. Joe had arranged this trip to begin on my birthday. It was an exciting present to be going to Europe for the first time. When the plane arrived, Joe did not have to disembark. Karen and I came aboard. There in the center section, Joe sat beaming and holding onto a helium balloon that announced, "Happy Birthday Rob.” He was sitting in the middle of three seats. His appearance jolted me like a slap. He had lost considerable weight and his facial features were gaunt. Karen and I plunked in the aisle seats.
The ramifications of Joe’s appearance settled in. He had disclosed to us several years previous that we was diagnosed HIV-Positive. Apparently, he was beginning to develop symptoms of AIDS. He was in high spirits and seemed fit to take this trip. Little did I realize this jaunt was a harbinger for the journey we would traverse during the next 15 months. I had not disclosed to anyone, but had promised myself that when Joe got ill, I would make myself available to go to his home and care for him. I was in a position to curtail my endeavors and attend to his, should he need it. Now, however, he seemed fine although he looked a bit haggard. Our focus was on the moment and discover how we would enjoy our time together exploring Europe.
Our only itinerary was to pick up a car in Brussels and use it to explore anywhere we liked. The three of us each had specific ideas for locations we wanted to visit. We had not yet made a detailed schedule for our adventure. During our flight, we arrived at a workable plan. We would alternate days of being driver. The driver was responsible for choosing that day’s destination and securing lodging for the evening. We agreed that one choice could be to stay put. If the driver liked our present location and accommodations, we would stay for another day. This travel style suited my senses in that we could adjust our journey as it unfolded. The others agreed. We arrived, got through customs, obtained our luggage and loaded it into our rental car. I somehow was chosen or coerced my way into becoming first driver. We headed to our first night’s stay in Bruges Belgium.
The ramifications of Joe’s appearance settled in. He had disclosed to us several years previous that we was diagnosed HIV-Positive. Apparently, he was beginning to develop symptoms of AIDS. He was in high spirits and seemed fit to take this trip. Little did I realize this jaunt was a harbinger for the journey we would traverse during the next 15 months. I had not disclosed to anyone, but had promised myself that when Joe got ill, I would make myself available to go to his home and care for him. I was in a position to curtail my endeavors and attend to his, should he need it. Now, however, he seemed fine although he looked a bit haggard. Our focus was on the moment and discover how we would enjoy our time together exploring Europe.
Our only itinerary was to pick up a car in Brussels and use it to explore anywhere we liked. The three of us each had specific ideas for locations we wanted to visit. We had not yet made a detailed schedule for our adventure. During our flight, we arrived at a workable plan. We would alternate days of being driver. The driver was responsible for choosing that day’s destination and securing lodging for the evening. We agreed that one choice could be to stay put. If the driver liked our present location and accommodations, we would stay for another day. This travel style suited my senses in that we could adjust our journey as it unfolded. The others agreed. We arrived, got through customs, obtained our luggage and loaded it into our rental car. I somehow was chosen or coerced my way into becoming first driver. We headed to our first night’s stay in Bruges Belgium.
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