Old friends and retrospection

Lynn McCasland flew into town yesterday, sort of out of the blue. He had IMed me on Sunday and said he was coming in, and asked what day was the Wilde Bunch dancing now (Mondays).

Lynn danced with the Wilde Bunch from the late 80s to the late 90s...I don't have my dates quite down, but I know it was 10 years he was involved with the group. Sometime about 1992 or 1993, the HIV kicked his butt and blew up into full-blown AIDS. We thought we were about to lose him then, but somehow he did pull through. We had even come to the hospital to say our goodbyes.

After his amazing recovery, he asked if he could have a going away party there, since I had such a large (mostly empty then) house. It was sometime in 1994, and he truly didn't think he was going to last out the year...he invited all his closest friends, and had a big get-together. It was a weekend when I was calling somewhere else, I don't remember where, and couldn't come. That was easily 11 years ago...

Well, somehow time DID march on for Lynn. He got better and got antsy for some change in his life. He moved on to Denver, getting involved in the gay men's chorus there, but not square dancing. After another year or two, he moved to Minneapolis, and met his partner Randy. They bought a house together. After ANOTHER year or two, they moved to Tampa, I think for him to get back involved in nursing. I don't think either of them actively square danced much after Albuquerque, but they were aware of the groups in all those cities. We keep in touch sporadically, sometimes through mutal friends.

He and Randy visited a couple of years ago and stayed at the house, pre-renovation. They mostly visited with other friends, since our schedules were hectic then, but they looked vibrant and healthy (and large, something Lynn has always been comfortable with. Generally he weighs 320 pounds or so).

So, last night he wanders in while I'm calling. I didn't realize it WAS him until I looked really closely. He's dropped about 100 pounds or more, and does not look well. The purpose of the impropmtu visit to see friends is REALLY plain without me asking. His lease on life may be slipping away, but he does have some of the old Lynn spark left. He was overjoyed to see some of the dancers back that had stopped dancing even when he was in Albuquerque, but he was sad that he's missing Kris and Turtle-Bear, since they're in NYC. I think he's going to stop by the house tonight for a visit.

And again, it just doesn't stop, does it...

Old friends and retrospection

Lynn McCasland flew into town yesterday, sort of out of the blue. He had IMed me on Sunday and said he was coming in, and asked what day was the Wilde Bunch dancing now (Mondays).

Lynn danced with the Wilde Bunch from the late 80s to the late 90s...I don't have my dates quite down, but I know it was 10 years he was involved with the group. Sometime about 1992 or 1993, the HIV kicked his butt and blew up into full-blown AIDS. We thought we were about to lose him then, but somehow he did pull through. We had even come to the hospital to say our goodbyes.

After his amazing recovery, he asked if he could have a going away party there, since I had such a large (mostly empty then) house. It was sometime in 1994, and he truly didn't think he was going to last out the year...he invited all his closest friends, and had a big get-together. It was a weekend when I was calling somewhere else, I don't remember where, and couldn't come. That was easily 11 years ago...

Well, somehow time DID march on for Lynn. He got better and got antsy for some change in his life. He moved on to Denver, getting involved in the gay men's chorus there, but not square dancing. After another year or two, he moved to Minneapolis, and met his partner Randy. They bought a house together. After ANOTHER year or two, they moved to Tampa, I think for him to get back involved in nursing. I don't think either of them actively square danced much after Albuquerque, but they were aware of the groups in all those cities. We keep in touch sporadically, sometimes through mutal friends.

He and Randy visited a couple of years ago and stayed at the house, pre-renovation. They mostly visited with other friends, since our schedules were hectic then, but they looked vibrant and healthy (and large, something Lynn has always been comfortable with. Generally he weighs 320 pounds or so).

So, last night he wanders in while I'm calling. I didn't realize it WAS him until I looked really closely. He's dropped about 100 pounds or more, and does not look well. The purpose of the impropmtu visit to see friends is REALLY plain without me asking. His lease on life may be slipping away, but he does have some of the old Lynn spark left. He was overjoyed to see some of the dancers back that had stopped dancing even when he was in Albuquerque, but he was sad that he's missing Kris and Turtle-Bear, since they're in NYC. I think he's going to stop by the house tonight for a visit.

And again, it just doesn't stop, does it...