The Writer's Life 2/22 - Shovel Ready

Conventional wisdom pinpointed the origin of AIDS to circa 1980 via patient zero, a male airline attendant. A riveting article in today’s New York Post by Randy Shilts highlights a new theory set forth in The Chimp and the River: How AIDS Emerged from an African Rain Forest by David Quammen. The author proposes that the infection began in 1908 when the blood of a chopped up monkey seeped into the open wound of a hunter. From that time through the 1920’s, the disease went unnoticed because life expectancy in the area was so low. From the 1920’s through the 1950’s, reusable needles used in the treatment of other ailments spread the infection, which jumped to Haiti in 1960, transported possibly by just a single carrier. There, in 1969, shared needles were used at a plasma donation clinic, and the contagion accelerated. None of this sounds unreasonable, and it’s as scary as it is fascinating.

When I left the apartment at six AM for my morning walk, I smiled because it was raining. The ice that covered the streets and sidewalks was under siege. A half hour later, it was snowing. I let the expletives fly inwardly. I wish I had a book sale for every one I've muttered this month. At eleven, the sky was obviously clearing, but it was messy. I hoped our tenant's teenage son had shoveled the stairs and walk in front of the old house. No such luck. Maybe he was out late with friends last night. I was tempted to leave it, but conscience wouldn't let me risk a law suit. Fortunately, the ice was rather loose, though heavy. I hoped whoever cleaned the area in front of the Chase bank at Bay Parkway and 85th did the usual thorough job. No such luck. I had to clear a ten foot wide area in order not to block pedestrian traffic. I was sweating from the exertion and took my coat off. I know I'll be sore tomorrow. I'm tempted to take a couple of Ibuprofen, but I'd determined to detox for a month from the week long binge I went on to help stem the pain of sciatica. Although it seems longer, it's only been ten days. For the first hour and a half it seemed the madness of the floating book shop would not pay off, then Kathy came along clutching her walker. She's been fighting cancer and recently spent three days on a respirator, a malignancy clogging her throat. She and her teenage son picked out six books. A young Russian male asked for easy reads that would help improve his English. I suggested crime thrillers by Marcia Clarke, she of the O.J. trial fame, and Robert B. Parker. And a young mom bought a young adult novel for her son and an illustrated English translation of a Russian children's story for herself. "I remember this from when I was a little girl," she said, smiling. Thanks, folks.
Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5

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Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Vic's Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
Vic's Short Story Collection: http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tiny.cc/0iHLb Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kx3d3uf
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tinyurl.com/pdxwsnt

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

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