My buddies at Rivington House were in rare form last night. Instead of our usual schedule of viewing a documentary and a feature film, we watched a DVD of an Alicia Keys concert at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. A slight break in the routine was just what they needed on an Indian Summer night. The humidity levels outside had taken a toll on my buddies who are already suffering the effects of HIV/AIDS. You could see fatigue in their eyes and the stiffness in their joints as they walked or wrapped their fingers around a soda can. Despite their aches and pains Wheelchair Rambler and T were like two stand up comics in search of an audience.
Wheelchair Rambler was waiting for us in the lobby anxious to talk about the plans for the night and eager to hang out with my NYCares crew, Boris, Caitlin and Kristyn.
Last night, Wheelchair Rambler just wouldn’t let up with the wisecracks. He was unusually animated about the Alicia Keyes DVD. I sat behind him and he tested my knowledge of rock and roll trivia by asking me who sang the songs she’d covered like “Wild Horses” and “If I Were Your Woman.”
“That’s right girl! You really your stuff” he raised his hand for a high-five.
“That’s why you always ask me.”
“You’re the only one here old enough to remember.” He looked over at the other volunters “they’re to young to know.”
“You calling me old?”
“I like older women” he smiled.
“You just need to wear make-up like Alicia Keys” T whispered.
“I’m cosmetically challenged. You can’t expect me to match my eye make-up to my earrings. ”
“I don’t see no earrings. If you don’t know how to do make-up then you’ve gotta go and find yourself somebody to teach you how, so you can do make up like Alicia Keys.” T commanded.
When the DVD was over, I found out that Wheelchair Rambler was right. My colleagues hadn’t grown up listening to the Rolling Stones or even the radio, for that matter. But they have other fine qualities.
Even though it was her first time Kristyn fell into the rhythm of the night immediately.
Caitlin is a native New Yorker but the buddies think she looks like a California surfer girl so, she is destined to endure beach boys jokes they’ve practiced all month.
Boris is the favorite among all my buddies because of his patience and perpetual smile. Wheelchair Rambler and T can’t wait for Boris to arrive every month so they can tease him relentlessly. I can only empathize.
The anecdotes and very personal monologues that the buddies shared last night were hilarious and as raw as sushi. They’re comfortable saying just about anything to me, but sometimes I worry about new volunteers.
“There ARE ladies present” I cautioned T. “You want us all to come back, don’t you?.”
“I know YOU”RE coming back” he said before questioning the others on their plans to return. He was happy to hear that they’d enjoyed his stories.
On the way out I told the buddies that I’d back on November 11th.
“Can’t get rid of you”, T said sarcastically as I headed toward the lobby door.
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