0

•  Email
•  Comments
•  (3)
•  Print-Friendly
•  Glossary
•  Subscribe

My mother's home here in Shreveport, Louisiana, has been fraught with excitement the last few days. Christmas decorations littered the living room, the almond scent of cookies filled the air, and last-minute phone calls and arrangements made it all feel like a major production was underway.

And there was. The event that had everyone scrambling was held on a Sunday afternoon, when siblings and extended family arrived for the taping of "The 'My Fabulous Disease' Holiday Spectacular."

Now just take that in for a moment. My family was enthusiastically participating in a video about my life with HIV. And they were much more concerned with choosing a fun holiday outfit than being publicly associated with their HIV-positive relative. For them, the interviews I would do with them about my HIV status, well, that was the easy part. They had no problem being candid about my HIV, as you will see.

I am an extremely blessed and fortunate man.

"The King Family"

When I was young, I remember watching "The King Family" on television, a big happy bunch that sang really well and wore lots of matching outfits. I was starstruck, and always wondered if that King family might bear any relation to mine. And if they didn't, would they let me come be on their show anyway?

Well, today, I'm proud of my own family for displaying our dubious talents, and by going a big step further by discussing the importance of supporting those of us living with HIV/AIDS. For far too many, the difficulty in disclosing our status -- or the result of doing so -- has distanced them from the people they need most during times of challenge. Whatever the reason, if you need to feel a little family warmth and acceptance during this holiday season, by all means, check out the video.

The Holiday Spectacular includes some family greetings, a cooking segment with Mom (you'll want that divine almond scent wafting through your home, too), a little philosophical drag, a surprise here and there, and even an appearance by the big man himself, Santa Claus.

You may remember my mother from "What it Feels Like for a Mom," a surprisingly candid video interview she did for me on Mother's Day last year. You might also remember my gay brother Dick, who made an It Gets Better video with me. He was also one of the main subjects of the award winning "Once, When We Were Heroes" posting I made for World AIDS Day several years ago. But today, you're also going to meet sisters, nieces and in-laws who have special holiday greetings just for you.

Enjoy the holiday special, my friends. And as always, please be well.

Mark

p.s. As promised in the video, here is the recipe for Mom's Christmas Cookies. I'm certain they're fantastic for your T cells.

(Note: Mother uses a MIRRO Food Press, a device that must have been manufactured during the Eisenhower era, judging from the faded instruction manual she still keeps handy. I found one on E-Bay for you for less than four bucks, or you can use a more modern appliance, if you must. I don't guarantee the cookies will taste the same!)

Time: 10-12 minutes...      Temp: 375F...      Yield: 7 dozen

1 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/8 tspn salt
1/4 tspn baking soda
1 tspn almond extract
2 1/4 cups sifted flour
Green food coloring

1. Cream shortening, adding sugar gradually
2. Add unbeaten egg, dry ingredients, flavoring, and a few drops of food coloring. Mix well.
3. Fill the cookie press and form cookies on ungreased sheet. Sprinkle with sugar and bake.
4. Frost and sprinkle something fabulous on top of them (my suggestion, not hers).

Send Mark an e-mail.

Get e-mail notifications every time Mark's blog is updated.

Visit Mark's live blog at www.MyFabulousDisease.com.

HIV Criminalization Faceoff: One Poz Man and His Accuser

Addiction: The Disease More Likely to Kill Me

  

0

•  Email
•  Comments
•  (3)
•  Print-Friendly
•  Glossary
•  Subscribe

More Inspiring Stories on Family and HIV/AIDS

• 

  A Timeline of Women Living With HIV: Turning Up the Volume on Women's …
• 

  Day One With HIV: "I Had Never Actually Met Anyone Who Was …
• 

  This Positive Life: Now Over 50, Ed Viera Reflects on HIV's …
• 

  Changing My Mind on Treatment as Prevention
• 

  Black Notables Making the Affordable Care Act Happen: Anton J. Gunn
• 

  Reviewing Strategies for Draining HIV Reservoirs
• 

  Inside TheBody.com: What We've Been Up To
• 

  MyHIVclinic.org: Rethinking How We Learn to Practice HIV Medicine
• 

  One in Four Is Too Many
• 

  Lost and Found: Helping Patients Develop Emotional Resilience
• 

  My HIV Journey: Videos of My First Months on HIV Meds, and Where I Am …
• 

  Ending Homelessness to End AIDS
• 

  The Biohazard Tattoo & HIV Stigma
• 

  Boston Marathon Attack: An HIV Survivor's Perspective
• 

  Study: U.S. Felons Banned From Food Stamps at Higher Risk of HIV
• 

  A Surprising Undetectable
• 

  Blueprints for Resilience: Young Black Gay Men, HIV and the Future
• 

  CROI 2013: Women's Issues in HIV Research (Video)
• 

  Getting to Undetectable: People Living With HIV Share Their Stories
• 

  Key Points LGBT People Need to Discuss With Their Health Care …
• 

  Reflections on the 3rd International Conference on Viral Hepatitis
• 

  Don't Take NO for an Answer: How to Overcome Your Insurance Company …

Mark S. King

Mark S. King has been an active AIDS activist, writer and community organization leader since the early 1980s in Los Angeles. He has been an outspoken advocate for prevention education and for issues important to those living with HIV.

Diagnosed in 1985, Mark has held positions with the Los Angeles Shanti Foundation, AID Atlanta and AIDS Survival Project, and is an award-winning writer. He continues his volunteer work as an AIDS educator and speaker for conferences and events.

Speaking engagements: Mark King is available to speak to groups. Contact Mark about speaking at your organization or event!

More About Mark:
Profile

Recent Posts:

View All Posts

View an excerpt of Mark's book

To read PDF, click here

Interviews With Mark:

Mark King Looks Back at the AIDS Epidemic's Darkest Hour in the U.S. (May 14, 2008)

This Month in HIV: Crystal Methamphetamine and HIV (August 2007)

Articles by Mark:

Meth Burial (May 2008)

Once, When We Were Heroes (June 2006)

Outliving My Father (May 22, 2001)
Mark recounts how years of caring for friends dying of AIDS prepared him for taking care of his dying father
From The Advocate

AIDS Always Benefits from What We Don't Talk About (April 2001)


For the rest of Mark's articles, click here.

The opinions expressed by TheBody.com's bloggers are entirely their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of TheBody.com itself.

The Body: About The Body | Contact The Body | Content Policy | Content Providers | Advertise With Us | Site Map

Remedy Health Media: About Remedy Health Media | Contact Remedy Health Media | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

The Body is a service of Remedy Health Media, LLC, 500 5th Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10110. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Remedy Health Media, LLC, and its subsidiaries, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.