Wayne Gray

Thanks, chris. Mother is interested in seeing her son and his boyfriend. Why is that, do you think? Did Sandra suddenly turn into a completely different person, based on her diagnosis? Is she suddenly warm and fuzzy, and just wants to unconditionally accept everything her son does? *giggle*

Thanks, Tom. I'm glad you're invested. These guys have a lot going on, and there's so much more to go. I'm reading ahead to the next couple of chapters, and we're getting to some new dynamics between characters we've already met. I'm really eager to see what people think about it. Have a great day. Stay safe!

Thanks for the comments, Danners! Sandra is treating this as another challenge. She has yet to surrender to anything, and to her, adapting to this condition is one more hurdle to overcome. William is her great love. You're going to see more of that in later chapters too. She certainly loves her son. Not great at showing it, but she loves him. Ahhhh ... meeting the boyfriend. That chapter is great fun for me. I loved writing it, and watching Sandra interact with both Grant and Troy. We won't get there next update, but I think it's in the one after. It's coming, and that's the important bit. 😄

Thanks, Parker. Sandra does want to meet Troy, and Grant is wondering why. Grant isn't ashamed of his lover at all ... but he does wonder what mother is up to. We'll find out how that goes a couple of chapters from now. 🙂

Hehe. That made me laugh, drought. Thank you. And she just wants you to call her "Sauhn druh."

Grant is absolutely serious about HIPAA. I live in a small community, and if we are not real guardians of our patient's healthcare information then it will get out, and those people will never trust us again. Not to mention, if it comes out who spilled the medical beans that's a big fat lawsuit (rightfully so too). Grant has my own views on HIPAA. Ahhh, Sandra. She is in an industry that is traditionally male, and from a family who expected that she would have to relinquish control to others to succeed. She has worked hard to get where she is, and Grant was a tool in that process (social climbing is very important in her circles, and her son is handsome, intelligent, and charming - he's an asset). Her loss of control over him is not something she has taken well. She does love him. She has done a poor job of showing it, but she does. We'll find out if she manages to cross the chasm she has created between them or not. Thanks for the comments!

Thanks for taking the time to comment, empress. Sorry if this hits a bit close to home. I had a cousin with the most aggressive version of this disease, so I know something about it myself. Sandra has a milder version, but as you know it will be with her until the end. Everyone handles these challenges differently. I hope you enjoy how Sandra and William deal with their version.

Thanks, molly. 🙂 The woman herself has appeared. And ... her sweet husband too.

22 January 2019, Tuesday 10:26 a.m. Troy hauled the last of their luggage out of the van and into the house. Great trip, but it's so good to be back home. Grant put his own load of things down at the base of the stairs and looked thoughtfully at Troy as the lanky man turned to him. "What is it?" Troy shifted the strap of the bag over his shoulder. Grant gave a tiny nod. "What do you think about us just making my room our bedroom? We can have the other as the guest room, or as an

Thanks, Jaybee! I’m glad it’s worth reading again. 🙂

A nap has done wonders. Benadryl did it’s job too. No longer itchy and breaking out in new rashes. Thanks for the well-wishes, all.

LOL .. wow, and we just had an earthquake too! hahaha

I'm pretty sure I'm reacting to my newest supplement. I'll be marking that one off the list.

Thanks everybody. Feeling loopy, but still got work to do.

I do not need this right now. I am so freaking busy. But ... - Scene - I am seated around a table with one of our medical directors (Kelvin), my boss (Stacy) and our risk manager (Koreen). "Wayne, do you have an update on turn around times for LabCorp COVID-19 samples?" *I am idly scratching an itch on my neck* "LabCorp is saying their turn around is three days, but it's averaging more like six. Regardless of what we're being told, it's six." Koreen pipes up. "Should we include this in the messaging going out to providers? What do you think --" "Wait." Kelvin stands up and leans over toward me. He's staring at my neck. "What?" I frown and look askance at the medical director. Kelvin grabs my hand and moves it. There are little gasps from both Stacy and Koreen. "Wayne, are you breathing okay?" "What!? Yes! Why?" "Raise your pantleg. Roll up your sleeves. Now. Do it now." He's tiny, but very insistent. I do. There's a massive rash all over my limbs, neck, all the exposed skin. "You're having an allergic reaction." Kelvin looks at my boss. "Stacy, do you have Benadryl?" I get a big dose of Benadryl, then I'm promptly run out of the building before the medication hits me. I think I'm gonna sleep well tonight. Or, maybe in a few minutes.

What ... what is going on in this crazy house?

Those who fear the loss of their humanity are typically those with the least to fear. They're the most human, feel more, and reach out when others draw in. We will get through this.

@rickproehlThere's a pattern to epidemics. This one is following it. It's not special in that respect at all, COVID-19 is following a curve we've seen repeatedly. Lots of people will get this. There will be disruption to our lives for a while. But this will not, in any way become our new normal. The measures taken by governments and local jurisdictions are good ones. They spread out the time it will take for the virus to infect the biggest groups of us, and by the time most people get the bug, the first ones who've had it will be better. Those folks will be able to take care of the next wave of infections, and more importantly ... handle the needs of infrastructure that have to continue. Society and life will go on. Right now, this isn't normal at all. This is a population adjusting to measures they've never had to endure. There is bound to be some pain there. We'll survive. Hopefully, we'll be a little wiser, and a bit more inclined to listen to experts instead of talking heads on television - but, we'll survive.

Thanks, Parker. Grant is free to live those emotional moments we feel when we love someone. And now he's doing it free of guilt. He's well aware how lucky he is, and both Troy and the friends remind him almost every time he interacts with them. It's fun to watch two people in love. 🙂

I'm glad it's worth going back through for another spin! Thanks for reading and for the comment. We'll have to see about adding to the story of our folks here. I already have a lot to do!

You should do whatever it is your heart says you should do, droughtquake. Like mislead people into thinking lactose intolerance = a reason to avoid exercise.

I will drop one clue as to what is coming. The next chapter is titled "Thicker than Water."

I must have a bad rep or something. I blame @droughtquake! Thanks for commenting, empress.

Thanks for reading and for the comment! They're really just beginning to live a somewhat normal life now. Finally. It has taken months, but ... here they are. Let's see where they end up.

Thanks, chris! They're growing closer all the time, and in large part that's possible because Grant finally gave the Journal back to Troy. And every couple should include massage in their lives with one another. It's a nice way to connect. 🙂 Grant can count the friends as his too now. That has to be nice - to know he can count on them not just because of his connection to Troy, but because they value him for his own sake.