My Second Shot

It was time to go in for shot number two.

The first one was PAINFUL!  My ass was sore for days.  It was hard to walk for a few hours afterward.  But I didn't have any flu liked symptoms.  I popped a benedryl and seemed to be all right.

I went back to the Gay and Lesbian Center, checked in and waited around.  This time, Stepmom, the film with Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon was on.  I had brought a biography of Robert Altman to read, but this film seemed a hell of a lot more interesting.  The film is about a couple who have been divorced.  The ex-wife finds out she has terminal cancer and realizes her ex's younger fiancé, is going to be the one raising the kids when she's gone.  A real tearjerker.  And perfect to distract me as I'm getting my second treatment to cure me of syphilis.

The thing about the center is that they call your name just to check the spelling of your name.  Meaning, they call you in for something, then they have to sit down again.  It's not like they call you once, get all the papers filed, give you the shot, then make you go home.  Here's what I mean.  I'm watching the movie...

Susan Sarandon and Ed Harris are the divorced couple.  She's found out she's got cancer, but she's not telling anyone.  So she's just being extra bitchy to Julia Roberts, which I have to admit is great.  She gets her daughter tickets to Pearl Jam because Julia suggested it, but she wants all the credit for it since she knows she's not going to be around forever.  (I could cry right now!)  Ed has already proposed to Julia...the two women become competitors.  Julia's actually nice, it's Susan that's the bitch.  Then--

They call me in.

"What's your birthdate?"  I tell the guy, this big burly black dude with a sweet face.

"Have you had any flu symptoms?"  No.

"Have you had any sexual contact?" No.

"Okay, that's all I need to know.  Go have a seat and they'll call you."  Disappointed, I go back to the waiting area.

Julia and the daughter are bonding.  Susan has to ask Julia to pick up her son from a birthday party because she's got an interview in the city.  Julia is driving, loses the hand written directions in the wind (this is how long ago the film was made), and calls the publishing house where Susan said she had her meeting.  The operator tells her that Susan hasn't been there since she quit 12 years earlier.  Julia's pissed and goes off on Susan.  Susan lights up a joint.  Tells Julia the truth.  Then she's got to tell Ed.  And they've got to tell the kids.  The boy cries.  The daughter's pissed.  Then they dance around in their PJs to "Ain't No Mountain High Enough".  Everything's better.  Julia's becoming a better mom, which both saddens and relieves Susan.  Julia's a photographer in this movie, so she--

My name gets called again.  Thank God!  I was about to cry.  I get up and meet the nurse.  We go over a few questions.  Then she asks me if I mind if the penicillin is cold.  I tell her no.  She says she has to leave the needle in there longer.  She offers to warm it up.  Then she sends me back out to the lobby.

Julia takes pictures of the kids and Susan in warm family moments.  Susan's sewing a memory quilt with the pictures.  Julia blows all of the pictures up and does cut outs.  Then Susan comes home from a particular hard trip to the hospital to see a memorial garden of all the pictures. 

She calls me back in.

We decide to do the second shot on the right cheek, since the first one was on the left.  She pokes me and then is done.  What?  The other guy took so much longer.  She says that everyone says that.  I make a joke about him wanting to look at my ass.  She doesn't laugh.  I pull my pants up and leave.